JEKYLL AND HYDE LIFE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 71, 4 January 1930, Page 3

JEKYLL AND HYDE LIFE

£24,000 SQUANDERED, A man named Dumas, fortner Mayor of Baillenl, has been sentenced to live years’ imprisonment at Dunkirk, writes the Paris correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” The main charge against him was that lie had misappropriated about 3,01)0,000 francs (£21,000) entrusted to him. He appears to have spent it in riotous'living. The story revealed at the trial showed that Dumas had been leading a Jekyll and Hyde life during the time lie was in office. All day a sober and honest bourgeois, he pursued his business of manufacturer of enamel goods and deyoted himself to his Mayoral duties. In eight years lie had made of Baillenl, Avhieh was devastated by the Avar, one of the most charming cities in the North of France, rebuilding it in Flemish style. When night came, however, he was another man. Dressed Avith the utmost elegance, he stepped into his ear and gave his chauffeur instructions to drive him to Paris in winter and Le Touquet in the summer. There in night clubs and expensive restaurants he spent the sums which had been entrusted to his management. In three years he ran through the £24,000. In a final effort to recover his losses by gambling he came to Paris, lost the little that remained, and then Avent to the police and confessed.