STRANGE CASE OF ALFRED THORPE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 June 1936, Page 4

STRANGE CASE OF ALFRED THORPE

16 YEARS SUBURBAN CHURCHGOER 14 DAYS A “WEST END MILLIONAIRE”—AND DEATH (By Air Mail—From A Special Correspondent) LONDON, 16th May. When sixty-four-year-old Alfred Richard Thorpe said “Good-bye” to his wife at Thornton Heath, near Croydon, Surrey, a little more than a fortnight ago, he ceased to be a homeloving, church-going suburban business man, and for the next fourteen days lived in the belief that he was a millionaire, giving champagne parties in the West End, and taking boxes at the theatres. He told people that he had three motor-cars, a fine house and servants, and that he had travelled the world. This strange fantasy ended when a motor-car driver who knew him well, took him home ‘ unconscious, dying of poison, this week. At the inquest on Thorpe the Croydon coroner recorded an open verdict. Scotland-yard detectives are now trying to piece together the happenings in which Thorpe was concerned during that fortnight that led to his death. The story of those last days is an amazing contrast to the simple life that he had led for years. Every morning for sixteen years he had gone to his business at Thornton Heath—he was a company director in a firm of general merchants—with keys to unlock the premises. A hard day’s work over, he lockedup and went home. His life was bounded by the interest of his family, his church and garden. Although he was a company director, his modest little villa in Thornton Heath was that of a working man. He kept no servants. He had no motorcar. Since he was reported missing the police have found that he had issued £IO,OOO worth of false shares. Unknown to his fellow director, he had paid dividends on them for the last three years. He returned from a holiday vvith

his wife at Bournemouth. At Thornton Heath he got out of the car that was taking him home from Waterloo and said good-bye to his wife. Then he had £IOO.

Next day he met a copper-haired ex-chorus girl, aged 23 and stayed at Brighton.

After that he lived the life of a rich man in London. When he was taken home he had 2s left.