BANKER’S SUICIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1934, Page 7

BANKER’S SUICIDE

HUGE FRAUDS ALLEGED

CAILLAUX CASE RECALLED

[by CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

(Received April 16, 1.45 p.m.)

PARIS, April 15. “If I am condemned, blood will flow,” said a banker, Henri Rochette, when some time ago he was accused of financial frauds. He was found guilty, a month ago, and whs sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. He appealed, and the Judges, yesterday, instead of acquitting him, increased the sentence to three years. Rochette whipped out a razor, and slashed his throat. He was admitted to hospital, but died. Thus, his blood threat was fulfilled.

Thirty years ago, Rochette was a waiter on the Riviera. He inherited £2OO, went to Paris, was soon floating companies, and became wealthy. He was arrested in 1908, on charges concerning bonds, and was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. He appealed, and was released. The newspaper editor, M. Calmette, accused M. Caillaux, who was then Premier, of shielding Rochette. A Commission found that Caillaux had aided Rochette, but innocently. Calmette resumed his attacks on Caillaux and his wife. Then, early in

1914, Madame Caillaux went to Ca mette’s office and shot him dead.

Rochette, in the meantime, joinei e French army during the war, am

served as a private. The statute of limitations erased the charges, but, after the ■war, Rochette resumed his financial operations, and was several times imprisoned. - It is.stated that he defrauded the public of a total of £10,000,000. BROTHER ALSO SUICIDES. PARIS, April 15. Rochette’s suicide was followed by the discovery that his brother, Gaston Rochette, had also committed suicide, by cutting his throat, in a suburb of Paris. He left a farewell letter to his wife and children, saying that he was committing suicide to give them an opportunity of restoring the reputation of their name. Gaston was not connected with Henri’s" enterprises, but is believed to have been in financial difficulties.