DE GARIS IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18945, 17 February 1925, Page 11

DE GARIS IN SYDNEY.

CONFIDENCE UNIMPAIRED. EAGER TO REACH HOME. INTENTION TO WRITE A BOOK. [from ope own correstpc ndent. ] SYDNEY. 'Fob. 12. Still confident that he has a complete answer to the charges against him, and hopeful of wiping off his liabilities, Do tiaris arrived from Auckland by the Marama yesterday. De Garis, who was in splendid health and the most buoyant of moods, spoke appreciatively of the treatment he had received at the hands of his escort, SeniorDetective Davey, and the personnel and passengers of the steamer. As a, matter of fact," ho said, " tho incident has been a most beneficial holiday to me—tho only real, restful holiday I have had for years." Optimism was the keynote of his further conversation. Ho explained how ho intended in his leisure to write a novel embodying his experiences over 40 years, tho proceeds of which he hoped would wipe out his liabilities. He also considered that when the full facts of his case were known, he would be judged in a far different light from that in which ho might bo regarded at present. Completely Rejuvenated. " During the five weeks that have elapsed since I left Melbourne I have certainly had a remarkable and educational experience, and am completely rejuvenated by tho removal from incessant telephone calls, personal interviews, telegrams, correspondences, and general pressure, which had undermined both my mental and physical resistance. " I am. feeling much better than I have for years, and am looking forward tremendously to my return to Melbourne. " I am naturally delighted to bear of the re-construction of the Melbourne SnbDivisions Co., and to pay tribute to the genius of Mr. Joseph Woolf. " Any leisure hours that* come my way I. hope to devote to the compilation of a book-length novel, containing the rather exciting and varied material of my own 40 years' experiences, ar.d culminating with the present happenings; and to devote any proceeds therefrom toward extinguishing existing liabilities." Why Be Garis Disappeared. The reasons for De Garis' sensational flight were graphically told by Mr. J. Woolf to the investors in Melbourne Subdivisions. Here is his statement : "Mr. Do Garis bought £700,000 worth of lar.d, and raised £150,000 in tho form of loans from so-called investors, promising a huge bonus in addition to the normal profit. Owing to tho illness of his wife, bis ordinary activity, both mental and physical, was partially paralysed, and a panic broke out among the investors that he was in financial difficulties. " Some time before Mr. De Garis disappeared, I sent a circular letter to all investors pointing out the necessity of raising an immediate sum of money, and asking them to safeguard their own interests by investing in shares for the carrying out of a scheme of reconstruction!' Two issues, of preference and ordinary shares, were notified, to produce £55,000 for the carrying on of the operations of the company. " Practically no response wss received, each investor apparently taking it for granted that sufficient money would be forthcoming from the others. " The only solution was Mr, De Garis' disappearance. With what I think was remarkable wisdom, ho tried to gain the maximum of respect and sympathy. This would be created by the fact that he had had to drown himself owing to the lack of response to a business appeal. " If his disappearance was more or less theatrical, it was still designed to achieve the same end. That it failed was owing to the fact that Mr. Northcott took out a warrant for his arrest."