TRACKERS AT WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1899, Page 5

TRACKERS AT WORK.

TRACES OF A FEARFUL STRUGGLE

•A Perth cablegram of February ■_ 8 sfat&d: 'There are no further developments in ciDQection with ttie Claremont'murder case, but the opinion'is strongly growing' that the police, in arresting Fox for the murder of his wi'e, were on the wrong scent." Although- the officers of the force maintain * extraordinary reticence, •it• is freely assorted that the police are now watching1 another p arty, whose arrest may be effected shortly. Meantime the feeling in the vicinity is one of great uneasiness.' There are' several residences at a considerable distance from each other all the way* Sown from Perth to Fremantlfc, \ nd vvcinen, state of considerable...terror.. Several detest^es,' .putt?* mi Wisk 1?-S#$8 are stationed at the spot wnereMibe tragedy was committed. The traces indicate that the woman left the irpuse alone, and that she was followed;' fey a man. At a; spot abo<«t 400 yards'from the iiouse,' where the residence is hiatfeii .from'view, tliere is the: trunk of a tree, and the; tracks intricate that both pefsfins stopped there for some time, n'uinereiis impressions- op the -jeet of both?.s>eing; shown. yFrbm" thfa point fhe'+raeks - continue, but in* a form ind?<&t3Bg7i;aCcordfng •to the trackers,-tliaC-'the parties'were running. Af'ia distance of another 60 yards'there was evidence of a"violent struggle'having taken place. Shrubs have been pulled outof the ground, arid there is a clear impression of a human body, which, apparently, had been rolled from side to side. From here the tracks continue almost in a direct line to the house, indicating that the woman was struggling to reach her home, the spot where the body was found being 20 yards further on. From.the fact that nothing had been doneby-thevwoman to prepare" the iniday meal, the theory is advanced / that ■ di-re'c'lly after Fox and his daughters' left home "Mrs Fox went out with ah axe to obtain wood, that " she was followed by the murderer, and that at the spot where the old tree was lying she was overtaken by him,-and that she held him at bay with an axel It is supposed that she drdpped this, and ran, but was caught and finally despatched. v ;'■? •Interviews-.with, numbers of people who are well acquainted with Fox and deceased for many years prove that they were' a most respectable and thrifty couple, living happily together, greatly attached to each other and to the children. The latter have been told only part of the terrible tragedy.