STRANGE MURDER MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 7

STRANGE MURDER MYSTERY

ANONYMOUS WRITER ' WILL CONFESS IF PARDONED. By Teleerapli—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. September 10, 9.10 p.in:) Sydney, September 10. ■ All open verdict has been roturnod at tho inquest' upou tho death of Charles John Stratton, a wharf labourer, 33 years of age, who was found shot in the back in tho scrub at Yarra Hay oil August 19. A black tracker found tracks leading to a spot where a couple had been sitting, eating oranges, and also a man's track from the spot where Stratum's body was found to tho spot where tho empty cartridge lay. It is stated that Stratton had been frequently seen ill' that locality by night. Tho police received an unsigued letter —tho writing of which had been disguised—in which tho writer states that ho had been out with a girl when Stratton camo up, and threatened to follow them homo, and show them up, unless ho was paid £10. Stratton then improperly interfered with tho girl, struck tho writer with a stick, and bolted. The writer then drew a revolver, and fired, intending to shoot Stratton in tho legs. He was prepared to make a clean confession if granted a free pardon. "Shooting touts is no sin, he added. "It would bo better if all such mongrols wcro dead." The efforts of tho polico to trace the writer have been unavailing.