A PAWN OF FATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

A PAWN OF FATE.

FAMOUS BANKER'S SUICIDE. Sir Drummond Eraser, the famous banker, committed suicide at his home at Blakeney, on the Norfolk coast. He "was found dead in bed ■with his throat cut. A razor had fallen from his hand. At the inquest, where a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned, it was stated that Sir Drummond had for some time suffered from leg weakness, and for the last six months had been confined to his bed. Two nurses were in attendance on him. When one went into his room early in •the morning she found him lying dead in bed. "Hearing a noise in Sir Drummond's room," said witness, "I returned and found that he had cut his throat." Dr. Hales, Sir Drummond's medical adviser since he has been living at Blakeney, said that Sir Drummond in 1915 had a nervous breakdown following the los 6 of his two sons in the war. He was also considerably depressed at the loss of his wife. He entirely lost the use of his legs, and had to 'be helped in and out of bed. For some time he had hopes that he would again occupy the great position he once held, but the knowledge that he would never do so greatly impressed itself on mind and made him subject to fits of depression. Dr. Hales' partner corroborated the evidence, and said that a razor and case were found near Sir Drummond. A chambermaid said Sir Drummond asked her to give him a case from a chest of drawers. She did not know that it contained razors. Sir Drummond, who was the son of the late Mr. W. Murray Fraser, banker, of Manchester and London, was 62. He was a leading .personality in the banking world, and the Government frequently called him into consultation on War Loan issues. The Final Blow. Sir Drummond's suicide was a tragedy of ill-health. "Ten days ago," said Mr. Stewart Eraser, his brother, "he learned, some way or other, that he would never again get up or be able to follow his old life of intense mental and physical activity. This, I feel sure, was the last straw. "The latter years of his life have been one long tragedy. His two sons, Murray and Harold, were killed early in the war. Shortly afterwards one of his dearest brothers was ateo killed. "Sir Drummond broke down, as at seemed, completely, but rallied when his country called for his assistance and advice in the financial conduct of the war. "He played an extremely important part in the war, for which he was honoured, and this helped him to bear up under 'his misfortunes. "He Host financially through .his war work, but worked harder than ever afterwards until his wife died suddenly two years ago. - Then my brother cracked up slowly, until six months ago he lost the use of his legs, and he became a helpless invalid. "When he learned that his days of business activity were numbered, and that he would never again rise from his bed, that was the finish."