MURDER MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 95, 16 January 1929, Page 11

MURDER MYSTERY

MISSING MAN’S BODY FOUND IN GARAGE

(Australian Press Association.) London, January 14.

The Scotland Yard authorities are investigating the mystery of the murder of Vivian Messiter, aged 55, Southampton manager of an American oil company. Deceased had been wounded in the back of the head. The body was found inside a private garage at Southampton. The door was padlocked outside. Mr. Messiter had been missing ten weeks. A post-mortem examination revealed that death occurred two months ago. Deceased was last seen on October 30.

The police discovered a code among Mr. Messiter’s possessions in his apartments. It is believed that with this code he corresponded with a woman in New York.

Sir Bernard Spilsbury, Home Office was called in in an attempt to settle the vital question as to whether Messiter was murdered with a revolver or killed with a hammer. Should he prove that the man was not shot, it will virtuallj- eliminate the theory that the crime was carefully planned for revenge. Decomposition is so advanced that .even *the famous Sir Bernard Spilsbury may have difficulty iu deciding the matter. The police are in possession of a letter written and posted by Messiter on the day before the crime, in which they believe they have a valuable clue.

(Rec. January 15, 7.10 p.m.) London, January 15. Vivian Messiter’s sister says that there is no mystery about the code letters received by her brother from a woman in America. They met when lie was a wounded officer in hospital during the war. She was a nurse. They were of about the same age. ' Tliejwere just friends. Nothing more.