Stavisky at bay and shoots himself . Hunted banker ends his life as police batter door of hiding place . Serge Stavisky , the hunted French banker shot himself dead as detectives were battering down a door to arrest him on a ?6 , 000,000 fraud charge . The drama took place in a villa at Chamonix , the winter sports resort , where he had been in hiding . When detectives forced an entrance they found the banker in a coma on the floor gravely injured from two bullet wounds . Despite the efforts of doctors , he died . Photo shows ; a new picture of Serge Stavisky , the ' Kreuger ' of France . 9 January 1934 30s, 30's, 1930s, 1930's, thirties, nineteen thirties