Brumley Life
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Brumley Life
PREGNANT YOUNG WOMAN COMMITS SUICIDE 24-year-old Eva Smith died at the local Infirmary last night after swallowing a lot of strong disinfectant. Eva Smith was in dire straits. She had been dismissed from renowned Arthur Birling’s company two years ago and fired again last December from the Milwards shop. After an unfortunate affair with Gerald Croft, who set her up for some months, she got entangled with Eric Birling, the son of the man who had first dismissed her. The young boy made her pregnant,
but he was a heavy drinker and could not offer her or the baby the support they needed. She was also denied help from Sybil Birling`s committee, after going there to ask for assistance for her pregnancy and her economic situation. She arrived at the Infirmary at six o'clock in the afternoon, and was reported dead a few hours later.
The infirmary where Eva died Photo by Wikimedia Commons
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We interviewed her nurse, who explained that Eva was in a terrible state when she got there. “Her skin looked burnt, most likely from the acid the disinfectant contained,” she said. She also told us that Eva had confessed having drunk the disinfectant because she simply couldn’t bear her life anymore. The team of doctors that tried to save her failed in the attempt, and she died a while afterwards.
Eva’s personal diary was taken by the police as evidence of her reasons to commit suicide. The diary provides detailed information not only about her personal situation, but about her relationships as well. In fact, the evidence that the diary provided was used to arrest Eric Birling (Arthur Birling’s son) and Sybil Birling (Arthur’s wife). In this diary, it was also found out that Eva had changed her name to Daisy Renton. According to her diary entries, Eva had met Eric at the Palace Bar, which he frequented at the time, and they had a one-night stand. However, as she got pregnant, she needed to contact him again. She described Eric as an immature drunkard. She explained that as she had lost her job, she had taken money from Eric until she found out that he was actually stealing it, so she stopped seeing him altogether. This extract of her journal incriminated Eric Birling for Eva’s declining emotional and physical state.
The nurse who took care of Eva Photo by Wikimedia Commons
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Eva also wrote in her diary that she had asked Sybil Birling’s Charity Organisation for help but they had refused to give her any assistance. She explained she had desperately attempted to seek aid for her upcoming baby because of her economic situation (she had no job, no husband and no family to go to), but that the lady that she had told her story to (who she discovered to be Sybil Birling) didn’t believe anything she said, and sent her to look for the father of her child. This was the last straw for Eva (as shortly afterwards she committed suicide), and so Arthur Birling’s wife was also found partially guilty and arrested.
The scandal has quickly become a crushing blow for Arthur Birling and his reputation in Brumley, but the matter doesn’t end there. The physical descriptions made by Eva in her diary, along with her accounts, have involved other members of the Birling family in the case. According to Eva, Sheila Birling (Arthur’s daughter) could have been the person who got her fired from her job at Milwards and Mr. Gerald Croft (Sheila Birling’s fiance) was deduced to have been in an affair with Eva as well, although not one as harmful as Eric Birling’s. Though both of these cases are still being investigated, Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft may be interrogated by the Brumley police in the near future.
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ERIC BIRLING HELD IN CUSTODY
Eric Birling Photo by Wikimedia Commons
This morning, Eric Birling was charged with abandonment of person and theft for his part in Eva Smith’s suicide. He was not given bail as his mother but was held in custody. The police hadn’t given him bail because Eric is known to be a heavy drinker and it is feared that he may not turn up at the court hearing. As Colonel Roberts told one of our reporters: “The boy is not worthy of trust. He is an alcoholic and we cannot risk him to miss the Court Hearing or to be too intoxicated to declare.” Eric was the father of Eva Smith’s son. The baby was the
consequence of a one night stand with Eva Smith, whom he had met at the Palace bar. Apparently, Eric frequented the place, as we could gather from the testimonies of the neighbours. A man who lives opposite the bar explained he usually saw Eric there and that he became rowdy after drinking with his friends for some hours. Another woman who lives nearby said: “You don’t know what some of these boys get up to nowadays. When I was Eric’s age, we didn’t have so much money and so much free time to waste.” 6
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It was known from the evidence provided by Eva Smith's diary that Eric was far too drunk on that first night and had threatened Miss Smith to make a row if she didn't take him to her house. He confessed he remembered very little about that first encounter. However, a fortnight later, they met again by chance at the same place and they went to Miss Smith´s house once more. After a couple of meetings, the young woman revealed that she was pregnant. She didn't want to take any money from Mr Birling but she was in need of it because she didn't have a job and couldn't look for one in her condition.
was too addicted to alcohol and too immature to take any responsibility and that is how he abandoned Eva Smith to her fate. Now, Eric Birling will have to answer for his charges in court, but it is believed he will plead guilty. His sister has declared that he feels ashamed and that he was deeply affected by the suffering he has caused.
Eric gave her approximately 50 pounds but when Miss Smith discovered it was stolen money, she didn't want to take any more. Eric
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Brumley Life
“I AM INNOCENT,” SYBIL BIRLING CLAIMS.
Sybil Birling Photo by Wikimedia Commons
This morning, Sybil Birling was charged with abandonment of person for her involvement in Eva Smith´s suicide and was released on bail to wait for the Court hearing. It all started last night, when Inspector Williams went to the Birling´s house to interrogate the family. After some questions, Sybil Birling admitted that she had turned Eva Smith down when the young woman appealed to her charity organisation for help. The fact was that Miss Smith was pregnant and he had no job and no family to go to. Mrs Birling claimed she was innocent. She justified her behaviour by saying that the girl
had told them a lot of lies. Apparently, Miss Smith had introduced herself as “Mrs Birling” and had said she was married. In fact, Sybil Birling thought that if there was a father, the baby and the girl should be his responsibility. “I would be wasting the Committee´s money if I accepted a case like that,” she explained. She refused to hear the young woman stating that she could not accept money from the baby's father because he was stealing it. Mrs Birling took this as an excuse and thought the girl was giving herself “ridiculous airs”. “The girl had scruples that were simply absurd on somebody in her position,” Mrs Birling told our reporters.
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Even the other members of the committee think her attitude was too harsh. Today, they were interviewed by our reporters and they confirmed that Sybil Birling had used her influence in the committee to refuse help to Eva Smith. “ I think the fact that the girl introduced herself using Mrs Birling´s name infuriated Sybil,” Mrs Lockwood explained.
The irony of the situation was that Sybil Birling was refusing to help her own grandchild. Can it be true that she doesn't feel guilty of this crime or is it just a mask to save her own skin?
Mrs.Salvatore and Mrs.Lockwood, the two other members of the Brumley Charity Organization Committee who interviewed Eva Smith some hours before her suicide. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
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Brumley Life
ARTHUR BIRLING ENTANGLED IN EVA SMITH'S SUICIDE Apparently, Arthur Birling was the first person to affect Eva Smith, the young woman who died yesterday at the local Infirmary. She had worked for Mr. Birling in his company until he fired her because she wanted better wages. He admitted she was a good hard working girl but he didn’t want to pay her the two and four shillings more that she was asking for. After that, Arthur Birling completely forgot about her until yesterday, when an inspector came to interrogate him and his family.
Workers at Birling and Company Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kheelcenter/5277 880023
However, for Eva Smith, that dismissal meant the beginning of the series of unfortunate events that led to her suicide. She didn't have any family to go to and she wouldn't be able to survive much time without a job. Luckily, she was able to find a position at Milwards, where she worked for a few months until she was dismissed again because of an unfair complaint that Mr Birling's daughter made to the owner of the shop. She couldn't find another job and got entangled into two consecutive affairs with selfish rich men, who eventually abandoned her. The second of these men, who happened to be Mr Birling´s son,made her pregnant and without a job or anybody to go to for help and support, she decided to resort to a Charity Organisation. However, she was again turned down. She had lost all hope, and she decided to end her life by drinking disinfectant.
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When reporters interviewed him, he showed no regrets towards firing the girl who died since he feels his dismissal was not the direct cause of the girl’s suicide. He insisted that firing the girl was the right thing to do.”If you don’t come down sharply on some of
these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth,” he explained. Another idea he kept repeating was that he cannot be expected to take care of anyone but himself and his family, and that the welfare of Eva Smith was not his responsibility.
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SCANDAL AT MILWARDS This week, scandal also hit the exclusive Milwards boutique and shattered its usually peaceful atmosphere. The disgusting suicide of one of Milward´s ex-employees had shocked the workers and also the usual customers of the shop .
Milwards is well known for having the best clothes and for offering the most fashionable models in Brumley. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
After the suicide of Eva Smith came to light, the gossip of the cruelty of the Birling family spread all over the city . The shocking news about the way in which this young working class woman ended her life also exposed the mean ways in which the owners of Milwards deal with
their employees and has sparked a lot of controversy and criticism. At the beginning of December 1910, Milwards was short-handed and needed to employ more workers. So Eva Smith, who had been recently fired from her previous job, applied for the job. She used to work at a factory, so she seemed to like her job at the boutique much more, as she was surrounded by pretty garments. Sheila Birling was seen to enter the shop on April 15th to buy a dress. She wanted to try on something which wouldn't fit her right. Some witnesses said that the dress even looked silly on her! Eva Smith, who was working at the store at that time, was asked by the assistant to take the dress and held it up. It is said that the dress was perfect for her. Everyone who knew this girl was paralyzed by her beauty and amazed by how pretty she was. When Sheila saw how well the dress fit Eva Smith, she got 12
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jealous of the girl's charm and elegance, and considered it an insult to herself. She told the manager that their employee had been impertinent and rude to her. She even threatened to close her account if they did not get rid of that girl. As a result of the social power Miss Birling had, the worker was unfairly fired. Eva Smith´s second dismissal was followed by an unfortunate chain of events with led to the horrible ending that became known yesterday: she committed suicide by swallowing a lot of strong disinfectant that burnt her inside out.
“She was the right type for it, just as I was the wrong type�
Sheila Birling, Mr. Birling and Mrs. Birling's daughter . Photo by Wikipedia
Miss Birling recognised she had acted in a completely egotistic manner and she has publicly confessed she felt guilty and wished her attitude had been different. Apparently, the experience has deeply affected her. When she was interviewed by our reporters, she said she had learnt the terrible impact that selfish actions can have on other people's lives. The question remains: will her attitude be different in the future?
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GERALD CROFT IMPLICATED IN THE SCANDAL ANOTHER FAMILY INVOLVED IN EVA SMITH´S CASE
It seems that the Birlings were not the only family involved in this case as the scandal has also hit the aristocratic Croft Family. Even though Gerald Croft was engaged to marry Sheila Birling, it was discovered he had an affair with Eva Smith, who at that
time called herself Daisy Renton. Last summer, while Sheila Birling thought his fiance was busy at work, he was entangled in a relationship with the girl who committed suicide yesterday. HE CONFESSED: “I MET HER AT THE PALACE MUSIC HALL”
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The Palace Music Hall Photo by Wikimedia Commons Apparently, G. Croft was a regular customer of the Palace Music Hall, which is known to be a haunt of “women of the town”. Daisy Renton had gone there for some money, and, according to what Gerald said to the Press, he “saved her” from a disgusting prospective client. This is how he remembers her on that day: “I NOTICED A GIRL WHO LOOKED QUITE DIFFERENT. SHE WAS VERY PRETTY, WITH SOFT BROWN HAIR AND BIG BROWN EYES” It seems that he became infatuated.
immediately
After some months of that impossible love, when G. Croft decided that he didn’t want Eva Smith anymore, he gave her some money and kicked her out
HOWEVER, GERALD CROFT PAID A HIGH PRICE FOR WHAT HE'D DONE: NOT ONLY WAS HIS REPUTATION RUINED BUT HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH SHEILA BIRLING WAS BROKEN. When Sheila got to know about this secret affair, she threw away her engagement ring. She revealed to the press this morning: “ I don't think I can marry Gerald. He is just a selfish man who doesn't think about anybody but himself. I could have forgiven a mistake, but I was shocked to discover he was neither willing to admit what he's done or to learn a lesson from it. His only interest lies in getting away with it. That is the attitude I can't forgive. I cannot marry such a man.” Even though Gerald Croft has not received any charges, his selfishness was publicly exposed. His parents, Lord and Lady Croft, are still abroad and refused to make any declarations on their son´s behaviour, but it is evident that the family reputation will be greatly affected by the scandal.
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REAL OR GHOST? In her declarations to the reporters, Sheila Birling revealed that the Birlings were visited by a mysterious inspector before the real inspector arrived. This man, who called himself Inspector Goole, accused all the members of the family of being responsible for Eva Smith's suicide. Eva Smith was a young lady who had been working for Birling and Company until she was dismissed by Mr Birling for organising a strike. A chain of events set in motion by the Birlings led this girl to fall into a serious depression and to decide to end her life by drinking strong disinfectant.
Who was the mysterious inspector? Picture by Pixabay
According to Sheila Birling, Inspector Goole was not a big man but he managed to create an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He was a man in his fifties dressed in a plain darkish suit. He spoke carefully and weightily and young Sheila confessed he 16
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looked hard at her and everybody else in the room in order to make them feel guilty of the suicide of Eva Smith. Sheila said: “ I believe the lesson Inspector Goole wanted to teach us was to care about others. Community is the key to a peaceful world. Living with rugged individualism won`t help us at all.”
ghost. Paranormal investigators are searching for a coherent hypothesis and up to now all evidence seems to suggest he was not a real person. He predicted the future and, after leaving the Birling’s house, he seemed to have vanished into thin air as there is no trace of him anywhere.
The weird fact about it is that, as Sheila Birling said, Eva Smith committed suicide after Inspector Goole left the Birling’s house so Inspector Goole seemed to be able to foresee the future. A short time later, they were visited by a real inspector who came to question them about the same girl . “It was really creepy,” Sheila said.
Whatever creature the inspector was, it is certain that his words have made a great impact on Sheila Birling and she confirms that she will never forget the lesson she learnt. She also explained that before leaving, the inspector delivered a powerful sermon in which he explained that even though one Eva Smith had gone, there were millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us and intertwined in our lives. According to Eva, he repeated once more that all of us are members of one body and we are responsible for each other. His last words were mystifying and alarming: “If men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.” What kind of hell was he predicting?
The Birling’s maid, Edna, was the only other person who didn`t refuse to talk about the matter and she confirmed the visit of the first inspector. She described the man as suspicious, and confessed he gave her “a weird vibe”. She said that he had a strange look, a bit phantasmagorical. In brief, we ask ourselves: was Inspector Goole a product of paranormal activity? His surname, Goole, is very alike to the word Ghoul, so he might have been a
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