NEW ZEALANDER'S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22609, 28 June 1935, Page 12

NEW ZEALANDER'S DEATH

SEQUEL TO POLICE VISIT FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. (From Juk Own Correspondent.) (By Am Mail) LONDON, June 1. A verdict of " Suicide while of unsouud mind" was recorded at the inquest on Frederick Ernest Marsh, a chauffeur, who was found shot in a wood near his employer's house at' Beaulieu, Hampshire, after Scotland Yard officers had called to make some inquiries.

The police reported that nothing was known of Marsh except that he was a native of New Zealand and was believed to have two sisters living in England. Scotland Yard officers called on Marsh's employer, Mr F. S. Drury, on the Wednesday, in connection with the disappearance of his car, which was reported stolen on Monday, and was found abandoned at Shepherd's Bush after being involved in a fatal accident. Soon after they left the house a shot was heard in the grounds, and Marsh was found with severe shot wounds. He died a few hours later.

At the inquest Mr Drury said that March entered his service six weeks ago. On Tuesday he heard that his car had been stolen while Marsh was in charge of it. It waa later found abandoned at Holloway, London, in a badly damaged condition. He questioned Marsh, who said he left the car outside a cafe, and found that it had disappeared when he came out. On Wednesday, three Scotland Yard officers interviewed him at Beaulieu, one of whom told him that Marsh had run over and killed a man in London. He was also handed a note which read: "I can't pay the 30s at Bow Street. Goodbye.—Marsh." PEDESTRIAN KILLED BY CAR.

A butler then gave evidence saying that Marsh seemed very agitated when he saw the car outside the house, and on learning who the visitors were handed him a sealed note to give to, Mr Drury. A few minutes later he hearcl a shot aud found Marsh lying in a wood near the house with an automatic pistol beside him.

Police Sergeant Bellinger, of Hythe, stated that a memorandum of a 30s fine was found on the body, but the offence was not stated. A pedestrian had been killed at Wood lane, Shepherd's Bush, on Monday night by a car that did ntt stop, and the police subsequently discovered that Marsh was the driver of the car concerned. It was their intention to interview him at Beaulieu. The (••ergeant also produced a book on " The Inferiority Complex," and the coroner remarked that the -first article in it was entitled "Don't Commit Suicide!"

Recording his verdict, the coroner said he was satisfied that the memorandum about not being able to pay 30s was not sufficient to cause the man's suicide. The knowledge that he was concerned in a more serious affair must have preyed on the dead man's mind.