SUICIDE'S DELUSION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 2, 14 July 1914, Page 7

SUICIDE'S DELUSION.

AN AMATEUR SHERLOCK HOLMES. The strange delusions of the young mail who shot himself in the Strand last month were described at the inquest. The dead man was Harold Walter Grote, aged 26, an engineering student at London University. He was married, and lived in apartments at Morniugton Crescent. The widow said they had been married about two years. Following the' theft of her bicycle in November last and its ultimate recovery after her husband had recognised it being ridden at Shepherd's Bush, lie started out to find the thieves. He began to watch a certain shop which he thought was connected with the affair, and also followed a lady ami gentleman on his bicycle to Highgate. Afterwards he told her that he called to the man to stop,, whereupon the latter put his hand to his pocket to throw pepper into his eyes. The Coroner: Had he been reading a lot of sensational stories 1 ? No, all his books were scientific ones. Did he go to the kinematograph?— He went very often. And saw detective pieces?— Yes. The Coroner: You are bound to see some detective pieces. "HOLMES-ING." The .following letter written by Grote to his father in Hanover, but never posted, was read by the coroner:— Dear Daddy, —Been doing detective work lately. Traced "Phil's" Humber lost last November, you remember, and restored it to its rightful owner with the help of a C.I.D. sergeant. It is very little the worse for wear. After that 1 did some more "Holmes-ing" (a reference to Sherlock Holmes), and am now hard 011 the track of a gang that seems worth catching. To all appearances they are well organised. Part of their business is cycle and probably motor stealing. .lust escaped having a handful of sneezing powder in my eyes whilst in pursuit in broad daylight in Archway road, Highgate. Don't be alarmed. Trust me to be careful. All particulars later. Ever vour most loving son, HAROLD.

Replying to the coroner, the widow said that the next day about ten o'clock her husband came home and put his finger on his lips as a sign for her to speak quietly. He told her that the gang was a tremendous one and that he was unsafe and must get out of the country at once. THE SOLUTION. The gang, he said, numbered at least 400, and that he had tried to get to Scotland Yard to lay information, but was followed wherever he went. He seemed to think the house was full of thieves, and every time a step was heard he would say, '' That is another. How many more?" He thought people were congregating in the next room.

They both went out that night, her husband loading his pistol. At midnight they were at Charing Cross, but he would not enquire about a train because he said that the gang would know him.

He would not go home and eventually, after some trouble, they managed to put up at an hotel. On Saturday morning her husband was still under the delusion that he was being followed. They got to a tea-shop at Charing Cross, but he would not go in, because he said it was full of "the people." Suddenly he exclaimed, '' At last I have a solution of the whole thing!" and shot himself through the head. Replying to the coroner, the witness added that she and her husband had lived very happily together. In the.man's pockets were found telegraphic forms addressed to his father. One read, "Can you possibly come at once? My safety is at stake. Address Scotland Yard."

Another was: "Do come at once. My safety at stake. Wire arrival Carlton Hotel." A verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned.