LONELY MAN MURDERED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8672, 12 July 1906, Page 2

LONELY MAN MURDERED.

— -* — ■— ATTACKED IN HIS SLEEP BY HIDDEN ASSAILANT. Early on Saturday morning, May 19, a mysterious tragedy was discovered at Preston, the victim being Mr James Fell, aged sixty-three, who for over forty years had carried on the business of a drysalter in that towfi. About five years ago Mr Fell, who was a bachelor, left his brother aiid todk tip his residence at his warehousej in Bt John's Place, where he lived more or less the life of a hermit. In. his habite he was very eccentric, and« made a praotic© of sleeping on an improvised bed of paper immediately under the safe in the office. At eight o'clock on Saturday morning, May 19, a nephew, who assisted in the business, was aertonished to find the door locked. He effected an entrance with hie own key, and just inside discovered his uncle J s key o& the floor. In the office he found Mr Fell dead, with a rug over his face. The old man's head! and face had been frightfully injured. There wae a large wound over the right eye, the jaw was smashed* arid the teeth dislodged. The features were almost Unrecognisable. Rigor mortis had set in, showing that the crime must have been committed some hours before the discovery. The office had been ransacked, and the 6afe d-oor was wide open. By the murdered man's side was found a heavy spanner with which, he used to adjufct an engine in the Cellar below. The implement wag covered with fresh blood rind hair.. Close to the mead of Mi" Fell was found at sovereign which must have been dropped by the murderer ift his flight. It ie believed that the murderer concealed himself in, the cellai- arid attacked the old man in his sleep. It appears that on Fridays travellers were aocustomed to bring in considerable sums of money, part of which had sometimes, at any rate, to be left overnight in the office 6afe, and it ifc possible that this fact may have become known out-side. On the Friday when Mr Fell was murdered the receipts were paid into the bank, and the safe contained only a few pounds for current expenses. The police made a search, for fingerprints, and found several, which have been photographed. These would appear to be the only olue.