BOURNEMOUTH MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17979, 3 January 1922, Page 6

BOURNEMOUTH MURDER.

THE POLICE BAFFLED. WOMAN'S BELONGINCS FOUND. Australian tod Cabl© Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 31The latest phase of the Bournemouth murder mystery has been that the police have been searching for John Davidson, engineer and owner of a small two-seater car, otherwise their efforts for a week have given no hint a/s to the murderer. Davison, however, voluntarily reported to the police, and satisfactorily explained his movements. He was unable to throw any light on the crime. The murdered woman's attache case was found six miles from the scene of the murder. The case was open, and some ; of the contents scattered about the ground : included a nightdress, a comb, tooth- ! brush, handkerchief, and gloves, but a purse, containing three pounds, was missing. The police regard the discovery as important, as indicating the movements of . the murderer after the crime, which was , committed three miles east of BourneI mouth. The case was found three miles . west of the town, the bracken, , ten yards from a road, extensively used by motorists. It is believed to have been hurriedly thrown out of a car by the ; murderer. , The following is an example of the clues which the police have been sifting. l On Thursday night a barmaid in a (saloon bar of the Bournemouth Hotel noticed a . man of shifty face and rough expression. She tried to avoid serving him, but he said: " I used to be with the Australians at Uford. I am now driving the High Commissioner for Australia, who i s staying at the Bournemouth Hotel." The barmaid said jestingly When you came in I thought you were a murderer." , Immediately a scared expression spread , over his face. He went out quickly j without paying for his drink. The bar- . maid says he bad the appearance of having slept out for several nights. The police ascertained that the High Com- | missioner for Australia is not staying at , Bournemouth.