DOUBLE MURDERS DISCLOSED IN U.S.A.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19197, 10 October 1930, Page 1

DOUBLE MURDERS DISCLOSED IN U.S.A.

POLICE PUZZLED BY STRANGE FEATURES. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEW YQRK, October 2. Two double murders, done with widely-varying motives, have challenged police solution. Washington was the scene of a tragedy, the victims being Colonel Richard Creecy and his wife, wealthy and socially prominent people. Colonel Creecy was found shot dead in the Mayflower Hotel, while his wife had been fatally injured with a hatchet. This weapon and the revolver, both newly purchased, were lying alongside the bodies. Diamonds, jewellery and a considerable sum in cash were undisturbed, which gave colour to a theory that Colonel Creecy killed his wife and then committed suicide. Second in command of the Haiti constabulary, he was home on leave. On the other hand, the absence of a motive and some other factors suggested by a clever outsfcle assassin. Arthur Morris, the father of three children, was found in a suburban field at Stockton, California, lying dead alongside Gertie Chambers, a girl cf 18. The girl’s head had been struck with a wrench: Morris was killed by a rifle bullet which penetrated the cowl of the motor-car. His body was carefully braced to a sitting position by a rock, so that the passer-by saw nothing alarming in what appeared to be a picnic party until close investigation disclosed the tragedy.