A LADY MURDERED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 19

A LADY MURDERED.

LONDON, August 25

The wife of Major-general Charles E. Luard, of Ightham Knoll, Sevenoaks, was shot with a revolver and killed on the balcony' of a summer-house in the lovely woods attached to Frankfield, the residence of Mr Horace Wilkinson, at Seal Chart, Sevenoaks, shortly after her husband had left her at a wicket gate leading to the woods.

Her husband was igoing to the Goddengreen golf house to fetch some clubs, their intention being to spend some days away 1 from home.

The deceased lady was robbed of three rings, and her fingers were badly cut. There is no clue to the murderer. August 26. Two bullete have been extracted from Mrs Lizard's head.

The doctor is of opinion that she was struck from behind -with a bludgeon, and then shot as she lay stunned.

At the inquest at Sevenoaks, Majorgeneral Luard gave a dramatic account of the finding of his wife's remains, but threw no fresh light on the case.

The officers jrom Scotland Yard who are engaged on the caee are searching for a small revolver used in the shooting.

The police are employing bloodhounds to search for the Sevenoaks murderer. There is, however, little prospect of success owing to the rain.

August 28.

Bloodhounds twice followed a course which suggested that the murderer had escaped alomg the Tollbridge road.

The Luard murder provides great excitement for the public. The polioe are completely baffled.

August 29

A sensational incident has been reported to the police in connection with the murder of Mrs Luard.

Last week a man put up at an hotel' at Sevenoak?, and intimated his intention of ttayinjg for a fortnight. On Monday last he was unable to pay his bill, but he said lie expected a remittance. He went out ostensibly to transact business, but returned at 4 p.m. in a very excited state. He explained his agitation when settling with the landlord on Tuesday by saying that instead of proceeding to the neighbouring village on the previous day he was compelled to cycle to London.

On Wednesday Chief Inspector Scott, of Scotland Yard, was staying at the same hotel, and he noticed that the stranger was greatly agitated. The latter paid his bill and left, remarking to the landlord, "This man, seems to be a detective watching me."

It has been ascertained that Mrs Luard was murdered, at 3.15 p.m. on Monday. August 30. There is no confirmation of the story of

the detective and the suspicious individiual at Sevenoaks.