RATHER HARD LINES.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 4, 3 November 1887, Page 2

RATHER HARD LINES.

A roan who for tin; post two years has been an inmate of the Eltham (Keutj Workhouse, trader the assumed name of “ Wilton Howard/' has just died suddenly from heart disease, He was evidently by birth and education a gentleman, and his conduct while in the workhouse had been most exemplary. He spoke Hindustani, French, unci German with fluency, and was equally well acquainted with Greek and Latin. His own account of himself was that he was of good family, and that at one time lie was in possession of a considerable fortune. For many years ho .served in India as an ollicer iu the East India Company’s service, and retired with a pension. Later on in life,having lojt Iris fortune Hirouyh injudicious investments in Mines, he commuted his pension, and was equally unfortunate in speculating with the amount he received. At Constantinople he was seized paralysis, which incapacitated him from work, and, coming home, lie stopped at several watering places, until ho became destitute at Folkestone. He scorns to have exhausted his friends and he had no other resource but to obtain an order fur the workhouse from the relieving ollicer At that time he was elegantly dressed. His manners and bearing were always courteous and dignified. He refused money gifts when offered him, and had. a great horror of dying a pauper. He carefully concealed his name, Ids reason being, he said, that ha expected to come into a small estate, and he .should not like it to be known tbit he had been an inmate of a workhouse. At his death Ills linen was found *o be marked with an earls coronet and he has left a will, but no duo to his identity.