MYSTERY POSTCARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 16, 29 October 1932, Page 8

MYSTERY POSTCARD.

POISONING CASE REVIVED. A poisoning .mystery of 15 months ago, the death of Lt. H. G. Chevis, is revived by a postcard received in London on September 2, by the editor of the “Daily Sketch.” It read: “Dear Bir, —It is safe for me to come out of my shell now?—J. Hartigan.” “J. Hartigan, Hibernian,” was the signature on the back of the telegram sent from Dublin to Sir AVilliam Chevis # after his .son’s death, which bore only the words; “Hooray, hooray, hooray.’’ At the inquest, when an open verdict was returned on Lt. Chevis, the coroner described the sending of this telegram as an “exceedingly cruel act.” The sender was never traced.

On August 2, 1931, the “Daily Sketch” received a postcard, dispatched in London, which read: “Why do you publish the picture of the ‘Hooray, telegram’ ?—J. Hartigan.” On August 4, a postcard, posted in Belfast, ivas received by Sir AVilliam Chevis, saying “It is a mystery they will never solve.—J. Hartigan, Hooray.” ' It was established that Lt. Chevis’ death was due to strychine poisoning. Airs Chevis, to whom he had been married only six months, had eaten, with him, part of a meal Manchurian partridges, and was later herself found to lie suffering from poisoning. She has ever since urged the police to continue investigations.

The postcard received on September 2, which bore a Paddington postmark, and with the date “1/9/32,” was handed to the police. Superintendent Stovell, of the Surrey County Police, who had charge of the investigations, said that it certainly revived the case. The police thought, he said, that “Hartigan” might he able to throw light on several matters.