STAVISKY CASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22195, 23 February 1934, Page 9

STAVISKY CASE

ISSUE OF FORGED BONDS REVELATIONS AT INQUIRY (United Press Association.) (By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) PARIS, February 21.% The investigating magistrate is now in possession of 864 cheques which Stavisky issued,, totalling £2,000,000, part of the proceeds of the issues of forged Bayonne bonds, of which £330,000 was made out to bearer, £1,100,000 to self, and £606,000 to beneficiaries. There is no r trace of the remaining £36,000 obtained >y the. bond forgery. FEVERISH INTEREST AROUSED. A MYSTERIOUS MURDER. DIJON, February 22. (Received Feb. 22, at 5.5- p.m.) A mysterious murder, indicating elaborate prearrangement, and again arousing feverish interest in the Stavisky affair, was brought to light when the mangled body of a distinguished war • veteran, Albert Prince, judge of the Court of Appeal and an ex-chief of the Public Prosecutions Department, was found on the Paris railway line close to Dijon. Prince, who conducted the inquiries into the Oustric, Hanau and Stavisky frauds, extending from 1925 to 1931, received a bogus telephone call, apparently from his family doctor, demanding his presence at his sick mother's bedside, declaring it was not necessary for his wife to accompany him. He departed immediately for Dijon, after which his wife received telegrams purported to be from her hus'band, saying that his mother was progressing after an operation. Actually she was in- perfect health, but this was a blind to facilitate the murderers' escape. Plate-layers, with the aid of electric lamps, discovered the remains following an engine driver's report of finding blood on his engine. The,body was stabbed • and the ankles were bound with cord, scraps' of which were found on the, rails. A severed hand-was some distance awav, several trains having passed over' the corpse,. which. the murderers apparently placed on the line in the hope of traffic rendering it unrecognisable. A handkcr- ■' chief, a powder puff, a gold watch, identity papers, and a purse containing £3 10s were adjacent. The belief is growing that the crime had a political motive. Prince apparently reached Dijon and was met at the station by acquaintances, with whom he entered a motor car. Pieces of his cuff links were found on the road and othar pieces near the body. Possibly Prince was killed because he knew too much. He is reported to have received threatening letters. His predecessor, M. Cordon, was tragically killed in a motor accident at Dijon. Prince should'have given evidence this morning in the Stavisky inquiry, and it was believed that he would be able to establish the identity of the official who was responsible for the lack of action on Police Commissioner Pachot's reports.

It is suggested here that a plot exists to kill all those who know the truth of the Stavisky case. :