Postby dognose » Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:43 am
Yes, but for all the wrong reasons, it's a sad story.
Tom Hayes started out in business in 1881, and was later joined by Ridley Hayes until c.1886. On his own until 1890, when he entered into partnership with James Key Holmes and Joseph Henry Key.
This partnership was dissolved in 1905 and Hayes's life appears to have gone into a downward spiral. He worked on his own until being declared bankrupt in 1907, the remains of his business were then purchased by T.H.Hazelwood & Co.
Hayes found employment as a manager with another silversmith, but, to quote from John Culme's Directory of Gold & Silversmiths:
'During 1910 he was found mutilated on the railway line near Gravelly Hill, Erdington. Then, having been taken to hospital for treatment he was almost immediately removed to Aston Police Station where, charged with attempted suicide, he died of his injuries in his cell during that night.
Trev.