A NEW THEORY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 March 1928, Page 5

A NEW THEORY.

FATE OF MISSING TRAVELLER. if CABI.K--PK.ESB ASSOCIATION—COPYEI^S'' PARIS, March 8. A startling theory, reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe, has been advanced in the Truphene murder, in whirii it was assumed that a. charred body found at M'elum was that of Truphene. It is now suggested that- Truphene, who' was in possession of more than £SOOO in money and diamonds, himself murdered an unknown man and substituted the victim’s, body, with which lie changed clothes. He then set fire to the body, honing to mislead the police into believing he was dead. The theory is supported by three men who have identified Truphene from a photograph as the driver of a coffee-coloured motor car, in which it is believed the body was conveyed to the scene. Two women, well known to Truphene, state that he mentioned he had a presentiment lie would lie assassinated, and his body burned. Another presentiment lie is stated to have had is that he was going to Amsterdam, where lie had a. new position. An intriguing circumstance is that Trunhene’s overcoat, in the pocket of which there was a small set of scales such as are used for weighing jewels, was found on the roadside near the body. [A few days ago a Paris message stated that a traveller named Truphene, who was known- to have been carrying a quantity of valuable jewels, was missing, and a body which had been found was believed to have been his.]