SUICIDE OF BANK MANAGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1933, Page 2

SUICIDE OF BANK MANAGER

MYSTERY OF LOST LEGACY. LONDON, July 2. Evidence as to why a banker was called upon by his superiors to make a statutory declaration regarding his personal liabilities was given yesterday at the inquest at Croydon on Bertie William Haws, aged 48, Bingham Road, Addlestorie, manager of the branch of Lloyds Bank at Brigstock Road', Thornton Heath. Mr Haws was found poisoned at East Croydon railway station, and died before arrival at the hospital. A bottle that had' contained disinfectant was found on the floor near him. The widow told the Coroner that for the last few months her husband had suffered from teeth, stomach and throat trouble, and was terribly worried about the state of his health. So far as she knew he had no other cause for worry. Stanley Hugh Bradford, an inspector of the bank, said he had discovered that Mr Haws’ affairs were not altogether regular, and as a result of an interview with the general manager Mr Haws was called upon to furnish a statutory declaration of his outstanding personal liabilities. A statement was furnished, but it was not a statutory declaration, and a second letter insisting on this was sent him. That letter would have reached him either the night before or on the morning of his death. MYSTERY OF £lOOO. The Coroner: Do you know whether he included in the statement of his liabilities sent to the Chief Inspector any liability from himself to the bank? —Yes, he included his sanctioned overdraft of £95.

Did you discover that he had in fact overdrawn other moneys in the bank not, mentioned? —I discovered a fictitious overdraft in the books in the name of a customer, which the customer denied to me in writing ever existed. Mr Haws, the witness added, did not see that statement, but he knew witness was making enquiries from the customer.

The Coroner: If the written statement you received was true that would be a serious matter for Mr Haws, and might seriously injure his position and prospects in the bank? —Yes. What was the amount of the fictitious overdraft? —About £3OO.

Replying to a juror, Mr Bradford said Mr Haws’s salary and bonus would probably be about £6OO altogether.

Mr Haws’s brother, Frederick Howard Haws, of Headley Chase, Brentwood, said lie never suspected that his brother was in financial difficulties. Two or three years ago liis brother inherited Cl,mm in War Loan. He had thirty years’ service with the bank*. “I was astounded when I heard of the circumstances of his death.” Mr Haws added. The C 1.000 War Loan must have gone, but witness could not explain that in the least, as his brother had no extravagant habits. The jury returned a verdict that death was due to poison self-adminis-tered. and that there was not enough evidence to show the state of mind.