A LONDON MYSTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1925, Page 2

A LONDON MYSTERY

MAN’S HEAD ItATTEItED. AUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LONDON. February £B. A mysterious crime was dis.ove.cd in the heart of the city of London by girl typist. On returning from luncheon, she found her emploer's office door locked, and she heard groans. When the room was entered, the employer, Mr Ekisler, a well-to-do Annei inn, was seen lying ivitli his head haltered. and signs of a desperate struggle. He could only mutter: “Have they got him?" helore he became unconscious. Ekisler v.as taken to the Hospital. A strange feature of the crime is that the telephone in the office was cut close to the receiver. The key of the door was lying in an outside passage. There were no signs of iimucry. 11 is slated i hat Ekisler. who is understood to he an agent for the Paris Bon Marche, was living with his wife and son at Westbourne Parade, Paddington. He often complained of demands for money by a man whose name is known to the polic-v, (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. February 28. Early this morning the police with the Magistrate and the injured man’s wife were still at his bedside, after a four hems’ vig.il, waiting to take his dying depositions. Four times lie made signs of a statement hut then lapsed into unconst iousness. His office is on the third floor of a huge block in Great Winchester Street. The porter states that Ekisler wag lying clutching an overturned chair. Ilis spectacles were smashed and a blood stained poker nearby. LONDON March Ist-. Ekisler’s condition was still critical jearly this morning. The doctors and poli o are still waiting for a conscious interlude to got a statement. Tlie police believe that Ekisler is the victim of a Frenchman who recently sent him threatening letters which the Frenchman was anxious to regain. It is significant that Ekisler’s clothing was disniranged as if someone had searched his pockets. Certainly robvery was not the motive as Ekisler’,s gold wat:h i lid chain were lying on hits orei coat ami Ids wallet was i n the floor.