FORGER’S DRAMATIC SUICIDE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2073, 7 May 1907, Page 4

FORGER’S DRAMATIC SUICIDE

Mr. Lcomlias Preston, secretary and treasurer of the Timken Rollerbearing Axle Company, New York, died at the telephone on March 7tli, just as lie had .summoned his business associates to the room in the hotel where he said he was ill. 'The coroner’s physician found prussic acid in tlio stomach.

Later it was learned that Preston, who represented himself to be a millionaire, was a forger to the extent of £20,000, and also an embezzler of £IO,OOO. He committed suicide as exposure was imminent, and in spirit of bravado summoned the men ho had wronged to goo his end. Preston for years opposed anything savouring of speculation, especially racecourse gambling. Two years ago he went to a race with a friend to look on, and when urged to-make a bet ho wagered £4 to show the folly of it. Strangely enough, he won, became a speculator, and then sought to recoup his losses by betting on races.

The suicide left a confession written in September, saying that he was insane and had lost his mind and power to grasp things in his memory. He had lost everything save his faith in Christ.

On another card he directed that his relatives should lie notified of the event of his death, and his life insurance he paid to his wife. As he allowed the insurance to lapse in December she was left penniless, having only one shilling and fivepence, which was "found in tho suicide’s pockets. Preston’s widow was a young saleswoman in a Broadway store, and sold Preston some gloves a year ago. It was a ease of love at first sight, though he was forty-five. He told her lie was a millionaire, and ho lived expensively apparently on tho money which he had embezzled and obtained by forgery.

Some four or five days were recently spent in the neighbourhood of Mount Radiant by Dr. Bell, Director of Geological Survey, who has just returned to Wellington after an extended visit to the West Coast glacial district. In conversation with a New Zealand Times representative, Dr. Bell said lie found it a most interesting country, situated about 12 miles from the coast eastward from Kara men. He took the opportunity of examining various deposits of copper found in that locality, 'The deposits cover a largo area of prospecting country,- upon which ho is preparing a full report.