Haunted by Vision of Suicide’s Fate

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 177, 17 October 1927, Page 1

Haunted by Vision of Suicide’s Fate

SHELL-SHOCKED CONSTABLE COUNTY FUNDS STOLEN XIAU NTED by tho vision of a man who had committed suicide by blowing his head off. Elwyn Lawrence Hargreaves, aged 32, lately district constable at Mangawai, took to drink to induce sleep. Wben Hargreaves appeared at the Police Court to-day, it was drink that was said to have caused his downfall. He pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to account for £22 Ts 6d, which he received as dog-tax on behalf of the Otamatea County Council. He also admitted three charges of obtaining £63 Is by means of three valueless cheques. He pleaded guilty to a further charge that, being a member of the New Zealand Police Force, he deserted his post at Mangawai. Chief-Detective Cummings said that accused had been a district constable from April 21, 1926, until June 21, 1927. In June he got six days’ leave and, coming to Auckland, he sailed suddenly for Sydney. When he returned to Auckland this month he gave himself up. SHELL-SHOCKED IN WAR Mr. Hall-Skelton, who appeared for accused, said that he had been severely shell-shocked during the war, and after he had attended an inquest on a man who had blown his head off. accused’s nerves went to pieces and he could not sleep because of visions of the dead man. He took to «hlsky, and when he came to Auckland be was in a muddied condition.

He was persuaded to go to Sydney, and while there, he was ill for three months with neurasthenia. As soon as he was well, he came back to New Zealand and surrendered. Full restitution had now been made. He was remanded to appear for sentence to-morrow.