WOMAN FOUND DEAD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 August 1928, Page 5

WOMAN FOUND DEAD.

HUSBAND’S STARTLING DISCOVERY. LOS ANGELES SENSATION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) -United Service).’ LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8. When Frank Melius, a prominent sportsman and manufacturer, returned from a week-end trip he found his wife’s nude body stabbed and mutilated in the bedroom of tlieir palatial home. On .searching the mansion^ Melius discovered a man called 1 >eo Kelly crouching in a closet. Kelly was formally charged with the murder but be was very -incoherent as to what had occurred. Developments suggest the curious and amazing crime is involved in rivalry between several women tor tins handsome young man’s affections. Kelly Who is 29 years of age anti a meat cutter by trade, apparently often chugged along, it is alleged, in his delivery car (paying; calls to wealthy ladies during the absences of tiheir husbands. The police have interrogated a number of persons who -stated they had been at lively parties with Mrs Melius and Iveillly, while three women, prominent in dulb circles and also allegedly interested in Kelly’s attentions, have- disappeared from Los Angeles, in the hope of avoiding publicity and perhaps arrest. . . The ease is occasioning a sensation almost like the Hickman murder The negro maid, who served Kelly and Mrs Melius with breakfast on the morning the murder was committed, told the grand jury that Mrs Melius kissed her early morning ca.liler. Ail expert stated to-day that the fingerprints upon the weapons which killed Mrs Melius were not Kelly’s.