HARDINGSTONE MYSTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21196, 29 November 1930, Page 13

HARDINGSTONE MYSTERY

BODY FOUND IN CAR. A REMARKABLE SUGGESTION. \ (United Press Association.)

' Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

, LONDON, November 27. That Rouse might have desired the body found in the blazing car to be mistaken for his, enabling him to dis : appear and escape his liabilities' arising from his relations with a number of women to whom he was paying money on court orders in addition to his wife, was the remarkable suggestion of counsel at the. resumed hearing. The body is still unidentified. Counsel pointed out that the wooden mallet on which human hairs were found near the car belonged to Rouse. Sir Bernard Spilsbury’s post-mortem examination and other findings .were consistent with the victim being rendered unconscious, and the body being put in the car soaked with petrol and set alight. Rouse’s statement to the police related that he picked up an unknown man pn the Great North road and left him in the car temporarily. He saw fire break out, and ran away, panicstricken. . He added: “ I know several women, but it is an expensive game. My harem takes me to several places. My wife does not ask questions now.” He was remanded. A message received on November 11 stated: So badly burned that at first even his sex was hardly distinguishable, the body of a man was found in the smouldering remains of a baby car near Hardingstone village. The police have arrested the owner of the car, Arthur Alfred Rouse, who protests his innocence. Sir Bernard Spilsbury (Home Office pathologist) examined the charred remains, and throughout England inquiries are proceeding in an endeavour to establish the identity of the dead man. The only clue so far is a piece of suit cloth escaped the fire.