STAIRCASE MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 95, 21 April 1906, Page 13

STAIRCASE MURDER.

[ ' WEIRD iIfSTERT OF A PABIS FACTORY.

,4n exrraordinary martier aig been committed ia the Rue St. iEaur. Paris, trader Che most mysterious circumstances. The victim -was a morocco leafenftrmanufactarar, 11. B«dor. wiit> lived on cite upper floor of a large twose- On tae lower floor were Ms workshops.

Hia workpeople had quirted work; his servant weut out to dinner, and returned. i bringing with her two- savage dogs which guarded the premises. When she returned he was alivp and well, but lime. Bedor and tier brother-in-law, who lived with ■him, wen> in bed. She left arm working in his office. The n*>it r&ing was that the porter, about U\ p.m.. heard a dull sound like a heavy fall from the interior of the workshops. He- called the coachman, and both went into jt courtyard on whie.ii the workshops look, h--.it there was an appearance of anything being -nrrong, and no light coold be seen inside.

They obtained the key and entered to search: the workshops. But as they opened the door they thought they heard ateps

Lα the courtyard; they rushed back, and as they rushed a door from- the courtyard on to she street closed with a bang. Dashing into the empty street they saw a dim ngure disappearing at a. run.

Returning to the workshops in alarm, they fcHiad 3C Better stretched at the foot of a staircase,, dead, with, blood pouring from him. He had apparently fallen doira the stairs, and fractured hia skull-.

When, however, the police inspected and examined the body it was ascertained that it. Bedor- had been stabbed twVca and killed with a swordatiek. There had apparently been a struggle on thesince one of the- dead -man's- hands oad , been pierced, which looked as though heUad ettenrpted to defend Mmsetf. The glase of Ebp lamp which he usually carried with aim at night -was found in fragments, but the lamp had disappeared.

All the doors were apparently locked and secured bpfore the murder was .-ommitterf. The crime is of so extraordinary a nature that It threatens to baffle the police.