CHARRED BODY IS FOUND IN A BURNED MOTOR-CAR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 65, 18 March 1931, Page 1

CHARRED BODY IS FOUND IN A BURNED MOTOR-CAR.

Police Allege Amazing Attempt To Secure Insurance Fraudulently .

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright.) (Received March 18. 9.40 a.m.) BERLIN, March 17. A case paralleling Rouse’s has begun. The Helensburg police found xon the roadside a burned car, in which was a charred body, which was identified and buried as that of Eric Tetzner, whose life was insured for £7OOO.

The police became suspicious and watched Tetzner’s wife. They overheard her telephoning to Strasburg, where they found and arrested Tetzner. He at first confessed that he picked up a tramp, knocked him insensible with a spanner, and then set fire to the car.

Later, Tetzner pleaded that he accidentally ran over and killed the tramp. He then conceived the idea of the insurance swindle.

At to-day’s trial, the accused persisted that the latter story was true, but the police unearthed a witness named Ortner, who on November 26 accepted Tetzner’s invitation to a ride. He was attacked with a spanner, but escaped.

Frau Tetzner has been charged with aiding and abetting the husband.