MAN HUNT ENDS

Southland Times, Issue 22218, 10 January 1934, Page 5

MAN HUNT ENDS

POLICE CHEATED

SUICIDE OF STAVISKY

DETECTIVES AT DOOR

BAYONNE BANK AFFAIR

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.)

Paris, January 8.

Stavisky, head of the Bayonne Bank, who has been sought by the police on charges of fraud, shot himself when detectives knocked at the door of his chalet at Chamonix. He was found with a bullet wound in his head and died later in Chamonix Infirmary without recovering consciousness.

Stavisky was not dead when found, as the police first thought, but in a state of coma. He was taken to the operating room of the Chamonix Infirmary at 7.30 in order that a specialist could decide whether a brain operation was possible. There were four doctors in attendance.

The discovery of the French Kreuger was as exciting as an Edgar Wallace thriller. Detectives from the Surete Generate, headed by the famous M. Charpentier, knowing that Chamonix was full of visitors for the winter sports and that the financier was an expert skier, guessed that he might try to make his way over the mountains to Switzerland or Italy. Heavy falls of snow, however, made the mountain routes impassable and the detectives decided that their theory was valueless and were on the point of returning to Paris when their attention was drawn to smoke issuing from a chalet hitherto supposed to be unoccupied. Charpentier led his party to the villa. As there was no answer to his knocking he smashed a window, climbed into the house, and found a locked room. When he tried to force it a shot rang out. Breaking in, Charpentier and his colleagues found Stavisky on the floor with a revolver in his hand and two bullets in his forehead. Several days’ growth of beard suggested a wish for disguise, but he was dressed immaculately. It seemed that death must be only a matter of minutes, but Stavisky was hurriedly placed on a stretcher and taken to the infirmary where he rallied, though he remained unconsicous till the end.

Henri Voix, aged 38 years, the hirer of the villa, was also arrested. The police arc searching for Mademoiselle Lucette Alberas, aged 27, who accompanied Stavisky in his flight from Paris, but she was not in the chalet at *l>e time the shots were fired TWO ARRESTS MAN AND WOMAN. United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) London, January 8. A message from Chamonix states that the police arrested a man and a woman who are understood to have accompanied Stavisky on his last flight. They are searching for two others who are known to have been in his company. MINISTERIAL CRISIS RESIGNATION OF DALIMIER. STAVISKY’S SPECTACULAR CAREER. ("United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) Paris, January 8. M. Picaglio, a pressman with whom Stavisky stayed when he fled, from Paris, told the examining magistrate that Stavisky joined him at a villa at Servoz (Haute-Savoie) a week ago. When he learned that a warrant was issued Picaglio told Stavisky that he must leave the villa. The financier toyed with a revolver and said: ‘They won’t get me.” When he drove to Chamonix a male companion and a woman remained at Servoz.

Meanwhile, the Ministerial side of the scandal has reached a crisis, the outcome being M. Dalimier’s resignation. He has convinced his colleagues of his bona fldes, but the Prime Minister, M. Chautemps, has decided that he would be better' able to meet a fire of questions in the Chamber if M. Dalimier was not a member, so he offered him a ■‘good conduct certificate” which he can use in his own defence.

Tire newspapers are filled with details of Stavisky’s spectacular career. He was imprisoned for cheque frauds in Paris in 1916, when his father committed suicide to avoid giving evidence against his son. Later he was concerned in jewel dealings and swindling, but the trial was unaccountably postponed. His latest enterprise was connected with the purchase of dispossessed Hungarian owners’ land. The Spanish political troubles were taken advantage of to cover the Bayonne over-issue of credit bonds which were olausibly explained as due to the fact that Spanish refugees pawned a quantity of jewels. Joseph Garat, Mayor of Bayonne, and chairman of the municipal pawnbroking establishment, who has been arrested, is also president of the Radical Socialists of the Basses Pyrenees Party to which M. Chautemps belongs.

REFORMS PROPOSED THE ORGANIZATION OF POLICE. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) Paris, January 9. M. Chautempts at a meeting of Cabinet, admitted that investigations in connection with the Bayonne affair had revealed certain faults and negligence. He said he woula discuss with his colleagues without delay the reforms shown to be necessary. Among them would be complete reorganization of the French police, closer control of correctional tribunals, the protection of public savings, and a closer watch on a certain profession. At the Law Courts demonstrators, mostly Royalists, produced banners bearing the words: “Down with the Regime.” “Down with the Police.” “Down with Politicians.” Forty arrests were made before order was restored. MAYOR OF BAYONNE HOUSE AND OFFICES SEARCHED. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 8.15 p.m.) Paris, January 9. The police searched the house and offices of Garat at Bayonne, also his residence here. His wife sent a message to him in prison to tell him she loved him more than ever. Maitre Campinchi, one of the most brilliant counsel of the Paris Bar, has arrived at Bayonne to undertake the Mayor’s defence. The National Taxpayers’ Federation has issued a statement threatening to suspend payment of taxes until “those responsible for the swindle” are made to pay up. Demonstrations occurred at the Palais de Justice and at the house of the Mayor of Bayonne. Three arrests were made;