FOX CASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 March 1930, Page 5

FOX CASE

HOW THE CRIME WAS TRACED

DETECTIVE'S INVESTIGATIONS

A RUBBISH TIP SEARCHED

tUnited Proas Association—By Electric (By Telegraph—Press Association)

LONDON, 22nd March

The death sentence in the Fox c;isc closes one of the most curious murder trials in recent years. His mother's body was buried, and at the inquest the verdict was death from misadventure. Apparently everybody was satisfied it was an accident, and Fox was awaiting £3OOO insurance when an exScotland Yard man employed by the insurance company became impressed by certain curious features in the policies and also the fire. Ho went quietly to Margate and investigated. Practically everything in the room at the time of the murder had been removed to the Margate rubbish tip. This was searched diligently until every article was recovered.

The investigations caused the detective to telegraph the head office —"Extremely muddy water in this business," causing the insurance company to lay the facts concerning tiie lire and insurance before Scotland Yard. The investigations also showed that the very company which issued the policy had previously paid Fox £8 for an overcoat allegedly lost from the hotel cloakroom, i Fox was arrested and hold in gaol on a' charge of not paying hotel bills throughout the whole lengthy period. Simultaneously with the sentence comes the news that the smart, good-looking Fox is a convicted forger and jewel thief. On one occasion Fox, under the alias of Owen Smythe posed as an old Etonian and boasted that he could stay without paying at any hotel in England. He did so in numerous cases. He invariably deposited a sealed packet with so-called valuable contents in the hotel safe, this with a pleasant confidential manner and clever stories, disarming the suspicion of managers.