GARAGE CRIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

GARAGE CRIME

RAID BY ROBBERS ATTENDANT. KILLED SPANNER CLUE FOR POLICE LONDON, June 0 Broken whispers from the lips of a dying man have started a nation-wide murder hunt. Scotland Yard detectives spent hours by his bedside, as, in his brief moments of consciousness, he strove to describe the three men who struck him down in a robbery raid on the garage where he worked. The victim of this murderous attack in the early hours of the morning was George Joseph Cotton, aged 47, night attendant at the Lion Service Garage, Hight Street, Kilburn. Ho was found unconscious on the office floor, with grave head wounds. While detectives kept their dramatic vigil by his bedside in Paddington Hospital, Superintendent Yandell, of Scotland Yard, and' his assistant, Detective-Inspector Spash. were reconstructing the crime. As a result of their efforts, fingerprints and detailed descriptions of three men have been distributed to every police force in the country. Their descriptions are: Descriptions Sent Out No. I.—Aged about 37 or 38; sft. 6in. in height; of slim build; cleanshaven, sallow complexion, dark hair; wearing a light overcoat; has an impediment in his speech. No. 2. —Aged between 25 and 30; height sft. 7in.; clean-shaven; wearing dark suit, no hat; speaks with a North Country accent. No. 3.—Aged about .30; sft. Gin. in height; clean-shaven and fair-haired; wearing a light overcoat, but no hat. Search for the men is particularly keen in the North of England, for it is thought that they may have "jumped" a lorry and fled in that direction. Provincial police, at the request of Scotland Yard, are making inquiries at roadside cafes along the Great North Road. Among objects which it is thought maj- prove valuable clues are a motorist's wheel spanner, which does not belong to the garage but was found stained with blood beside Cotton. Making up Accounts Scotland Yard's description of the spanner is as follows: — "The spanner is a Ford lorry wheel nut spanner, 101 inches long, which takes a lj-inch nut at one end and a J-inch" nut at the other. "On the other shank there are a number of irregular markings which would appear to have been made purposely by an emery wheel or file ns a means of identification." Detectives believe that Cotton was working in the gnrnge office making up his accounts shortly alter 4 a.m. when he was taken by surprise by two or three men, who attacked him and raided the till. There had apparently been a fierce fight before lie was overpowered and bludgeoned into unconsciousness. It is believed the men had been keeping watch, and were familiar with the routine of the garage, because the till which they rifled was the one in current use and likely to contain money. Sobbing Wife ' They are believed to have been in the premises for only a minute or two before rushing out, leaving Cotton dying on the floor. The men decamped with about £2O. Cotton, who lived in a flat in Alexandra Road, Hampstead, leaves a widow.and 17-year-old daughter. At the opening of the inquest on Cotton, his widow said, through her sobs, that he had been unable to tell her what happened. Sir Bernard Spilsbury stated that the man's skull was fractured as a result of violent blows with some heavy weapon. There were also wounds on the right hand. "It is obviously a case of murder,'" observed the coroner in adjourning the inquest until July 9 for the police to continue their inquiries.