SQUANDERED FORTUNE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 4, 26 March 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

SQUANDERED FORTUNE

WEALTH TO POVERTY DECLINE AND SUICIDE A meteoric rise to great wealth and a speedy decline to poverty are the unusual features in the story of the stranger who was found shot dead in an East Grinstead hotel, where he had falsely represented himself to be Mr. Bernard Holland, a London engineer. The body was identified as that of Frederic Bieri, a naturalised British subject, of Swiss origin, and at one time a woollen merchant, of Margaret Street. London, W. He was naturalised in November, 1924, when he gave an address in St Dunstan’s Gardens, Acton. But he left that address nearly three years ago. when he was at the height of his prosperity and was spending his wealth lavishly. * He came from Switzerland about 15 years ago a poor man. but in a remarkably short time rose to be partner in a firm in Margaret Street, and in a few years amassed a considerable fortune. Then he began to live extravagantly entertaining on a lavish scale business and personal friends. _ Sj Suddenly his business declined. Under the pressure of financial difficulties he attempted to obtain goods when, it is alleged, he had no money. There were complaints to Scotland Yard, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with a fraudulen cheque. He was being questioned by the police at his hotel when he dashed uu a room and shot himself dead with a revolver. Only twopence was found his pocket. It is believed that he was marr t 1 f e during his prosperous days, but tn police have not been able to trace ni wife. -■ I