The Mystery of the Murder of Nancy.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7491, 14 April 1899, Page 3

The Mystery of the Murder of Nancy.

A CASE FOR SHERLOCK HOLMES. A strange affair at Nancy has baffled all the efforts of the police for over six weeks, and (a Morning Poet telegram asserts) has driven a leading tradesman of die town well-nigh out of his mind with terror. On January 8 last this tradesman, M. Ma this, received a letter threaten*

lag him with death unless he paid 60,000fr to the writer by January 26, according to instructions to be subsequently given. In order that M. MUlbis might understand that the demand was perfectly serious, and that its antbor held hnman life very lightly, the letter added that a man would be killed by an unknown person at dusk on January 10 in the outskirts of Nancy. The letter further said that a complaint to the police would be immediately known to the writer through some of his many associates. M. Mathis took little notice of the missive, which he ascribed to a certain person, but on January 10 a man was murdered precisely as had been announced—fired at point blank and killed—and no trace of the murderer conld be found The murder was not a mere coIncidence. M. Mathis received a letter, posted half an hour after the crime beginning "Your victim has fallen. Half an honr ago, that is to say, at ten minutes past eight, a man belonging to the working clas3 was killed on the St. Max road. He is lying on the left side of the road. He is shot in the oack, a little below the shoulder-blade. The bullet probably went completely through him This is solely to show you that we do not fear to sacrifice a man." In spite of all efforts no trace has ever been found of M, Mathis' mysterious correspondent, who continues to write threatening letters revealing every step taken by the authorities. M. Mathis has j bought ferocious watchdogs, has barri- ] caded his house and barred - his windows, while numerous policemen watched his house. The authorities are publishing fac similes of the letters in the hope that someone will recognise the handwriting. One of the missives boasts that its author obtained 20,000fr from a Rouen merchant by the same process as he is now employing.