BRANSON MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1929, Page 6

BRANSON MURDER

WOMAN’S ECCENTRIC LIFE. v ßy Telegraph—Per Press Association. LONDON, May (>. A detective who is engaged in clearing up the mystery of the death of Miss Olive Branson (cousin of an English High Court Judge) states that he can Jay hands on the murderer or murderers to-morrow. Jt is, iho say;), a man or nietf. who know Miss Branson’s habits, who had entry to her house, and who knew her four watch dogs well. Her body was found ill a water tank near the villa where she lived at Lesbaux. but a post mortem showed a bullet lodged in her head, and bloodstains were found in her bedroom, whilst her relatives- refused to believe she had suicided, as at first thought,, as they argued sbo could not have shot herself and then walked/to the tank .twenty yards away in her stockinged . feet and nightdress. There, are a number of tilings ill the dea’d woman’ life in her isolated retreat which throw a vivid light oil her case, which will astonish even her friends. The evidence includes Aiiss Bransoil’s diary, wherein she noted her movements and her expenditure with meticulous care. It is revealed that Aiiss Branson had a romantic marriage with Captain Wilson in the year 1918- The couple met during a German air raid at a British (base camp in 1917. Captain Wilson divorced her an i 1927. after an unhappy married life and a long separation, which had been due to Aiiss Branson’s excentricities.