Fingerprints in Flat Murder Case

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 114, 17 May 1939, Page 9

Fingerprints in Flat Murder Case

‘ ‘ FRENCH MARIE ’ ’ A man described as Robert Dixon, 26, warehouseman, of no fixod address, was at Marvlebone Police Court further remanded in custody for a week charged with the murder of Mrs. Elsie Charlotte Torchan at Euston Road, N.W., on August 16, 1937. Mrs. Torchan, known as “French Marie,” was found strangled in her flat, in which a wireless set was still playing. Mr. E. Clayton, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the woman was living apart from her husband. On August 16, 1937, a woman who occupied rooms above “French Marie” heard someone leaving at 6 p.m., and soon afterwards smelt burning. She went to “French Marie’s” rooms, and saw the woman lying fully clothed on the bed with a cushion over her face.- The curtain and some pieces of paper were burning.* Neighbours thought she was sleeping, and after stamping out the fire they left her. About an hour afterwards a neighbour found that she was dead. Sir Bernard Spilsbury found that death was caused by strangulation by ligature, and had occurred about five or six o’clock. Mr. Clayton said that on one or two bottles of stout were found the fingerprints of Dixon and there were also a number of his prints on a tin of salAnother print was found on the rim of the woman’s handbag. Two stallholders had identified Dixon as the man they had seen with the woman earlier in the afternoon. When seen by Divisional Detective Inspector Drewe, he said, “I know nothing about it. It was not in Euston Road that day.”

Dixon, in a statement, said he stayed the night at a Church Army hostel at Brighton, but, said Mr. Clayton, the records in the hostel show that Dixon was not there on August 16, but that he arrived on August 20.