English Woman Murdered

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1922, Page 4

English Woman Murdered

BATTERED TO DEATH IN BOUDOIR

PARIS, Jan. 3.

The brutal and mysterious murder of an Englishwoman has been dramatically discovered at Boulogne-sur-Scine, a suburb of Paris.

Mrs Draycott, wife of a prominent British agricultural chemist, has been killed, her head haying been smashed in by 5 terrific blows, presumably inflicted by a hammer or other heavy weapon. Mr and Mrs Draycott, a wealthy couple, lived in a pretty red brick villa, 60, Rue de l’Est, Bqulogne-sur-Seine. The man was engaged in the manufacture of chemicals and in research work connected with experiments with serum to fight foot and mouth diseases. He is stated now to be jn London, haying left Paris in order to sell some pictures a day or so before Christmas. Mrs Dravcott is said to life of Polish birth,, NOT SEEN FOR. A. BAY. The Greek motor-car driver <>f the murdered woman, a man named Vlachos, states that he saw lier last-on Saturday evening. She had then rung fon him and asked him to take a straw hat of hers to Ire varnished with black varnish life had in his gqrage. Apparently nobody saw Mrs Draycott yesterday, but thougji the porter of the villa asked casually where she was nobody attached any importance to the fact that she had not been seen.

When, however, this morning there was still no sign from the villa, the porter, Stalio, a Pole of about 60, went to ask Vlachos wliat his orders were. The latter was in bed. “I have come round to see why your mistress is still invisible,” said the portter. “Oh, that’s all right; she will com* soon,” replied Vlachos.

SIGNS OF STRUGGLE. SAVAGELY BATTERED ON HEAD AND FACE.

Stalio, however, not being satisfied, went to the police, who immediately sent for M„ Faralieq, the police magistrate, who lias Been in charge of most of the celebrated criminal cases of recent years.

The door of the conservatory of the villa was opened by the police, and in the hall they found the body of Mrs Draycott lying in a jrool of blood by the door or her boudoir. Her face, over which a fur stole had been thrown, was almost unrecognisable, having been savagely battered by a heavy, blunt instrument.

The police search showed that Sie murder had been committed in the boudoir on Saturday night. Though apparently Mrs Dravcott laid been surprised while she was sitting in an easy chair with a book in her hand, she had resisted.

The little boudoir was a terrible sight. There were bloodstains everywhere; tlie furniture was upset and broken and tiro curtains were torn. It appeared that after the crime the murderer dragged the body out into the entrance hall.

Mrs Draycott was killed, it appears, w 1 on she was dressed ready to go out later in tlie evening, presumably for a New Year’s dinner. Nothing apparently had been stolon from the villa, though some desks had been broken into. The police suspect that this was done with a view to creating a false impression regarding the motive of tho crime.

Vlachos has' been told to hold himself at the. disposal of the police for further questioning. He is 29 years of age, ai d lias been in the Draycotts’ service only a short while. Mrs Draycott, it is stated, was in the habit of spending much time at home. She was extremely fond of reading novels, and often would not leave the house for days, but used to sit in her boudoir reading and smoking innumerable cigaiettes. She was just over 30 yfears of age, with dark hair. Her husband is of a similar age. Like her husband, she was of small stature. 11 is believed that the couple hail been married only a short time. They were newcomers to the district, and, according to the porter, none of the lew friends who used to visit them is English.

The polity.* are guarding the scene of the murder, which is a modern building of 2 stories standing in its own grounds in a quiet road of Bou-logne-sur-Seine, a suburb south of the Bois de Boulogne, and about a mile

from the gates ol the city. A high iron fence separates the property from the pavement, from which the house is only a few yards distant. About 30 yards away is a small factory where Mr Draycott superintends the mamilacture of chemical products.