GARLAND'S SUICIDE

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 231, 30 September 1926, Page 2

GARLAND'S SUICIDE

IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTTES. TRUST FUNDS SQUANDERED.

[Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, Sept. 30. At the i nquest on tlie body of Hassel l Geprge d© F. G ari and, 'who was found dead in his offioe on Septemher 14th, it was stated tliat on jtbe day before he died, Garland failed to keep several business appointments. .He weot motoring all day. In his car was found a eopy of "Tales of Illusion," and on a leaf was tlie foilowing note in his. writing: "To many 1 must be a disappointment ; none more than to myself. I do not know why I could not liave been taken duriiig the war instead of being left to bring misery to many as a result of niy folly." Mr Jvnight, public accountant, said fliat three montlis ago Garland asked liiin to cstahlish for him a system oi keeping aecounts. Previously he had not even a cash hook. He had a large overdraft, but that was guaranteed hy one of liis friends. He w'as not solvent and must have had considerable financial worry.

ihe witness know oi oue association that had ©ntrysted Garland with £5000 for investment in debentures. He used that to' take tlie place of capdtal he did not possess. There was also a sum of £1000 -wlnch tlie witness believed was the eaus© of his last act. It was given him to invest in inseribed stock, which he did not do. That, together with the fact that the hank was pressing him to reduce his overdraft or lodge a security against it, and that the guarantor had asked for Garland5 s .guarante© to.be withdrawn, was the immediate caus© of Garlaiid's financial Avorries. His stockbroking papers showed he was £330 out, exclusive of private debts and liabilities. The Coroner found a verclict of suieide.