ROOM 66 MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1930, Page 2

ROOM 66 MURDER

MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY

STORY IN COURT

LONDON, March 18

When the case was heard in the lower court, Mr Sefton-Cohen, Director of Public Prosecutions, said:—“Shortly before midnight on October 23 last. Fox, who had been staying with his mother at the Metro pole Hotel, Margate, ran downstairs from the first floor shouting for help.

“He said that he believed there was a fire and that his mother was upstairs. From his attire, which was a shirt only it appeared that he had just left bed.

“Visitors staying, at the hotel ran upstairs to the first floor, and were led'by Fox into his own room, No 67, which was full of smoke, then into Room 66.

“This room was also full of smoke. “One of the visitors, Air Hopkins, having tied a handkerchief over his mouth, very pluckily entered the room on his hands and knees. “In the darkness—for the only light there was in the room appeared to come from a red globe on the opposite side of the room—he came upon the legs of a woman hanging over the side of the bed,

“He dragged the woman off the bed into the corridor, where is was seen that she was apparently lifeless.” “There were no signs of the body having been touched by the fire, and there were no physicial marks of any injury. There were no teeth in the mouth.

‘The smoke had apparently come from the carpet, which was burning under the large armchair standing to tne right of the gas stove. The chair itself was burning underneath.

“Inspector Palmer saw Fox in his bedroom, and asked if he could give an account of what had taken place. “His mother, said Fox, retired about 9.45. She asked for the evening paper, and he gave it to her. “He went on to say:

I lit the gas fire and asked if 1 should wait to turn out the light. She said no, that would be all right, I retired about 10.45, and went to sleep.

I was aroused about 11.30 by what 1 tnought was a window rattling. I got up,, and noticed a smell of fire, and went to her room to see if it came from there.

1 found the room full of smoke. I sm a light near where the gas stove would be. I entered the room, but was beaten back by smoke.

Air Sefton-Cohen continued that at the inquest a verdict was returned that death was due to suffocation from fire, or from shock. The body of Airs Fox was buried at Great Fre ns ham, Norfolk. On November 9, however, as a result of certain information which came to the knowledge of the police, it was exhumed, and Sir Bernard Spilsbury had made a very careful examination. Sir Bernard found recent injuries to the deeper tissues of the neck and longue which were not- visible on external examination at all. “Sir Bernard Spilsbury will tell you,” continued Mr Sefton-Cohen, “that in his opinion death in this woman was due to asphyxiation caused by strangulation by the hand.” “The case against Fox is that he has committed a deliberate and carefully planned murder.” continued counsel.

Air Sefton-Cohen proceeded to outline the movements of Alvs Fox and her son on their arrival in Margate.

In Jconversation with the manager of the hotel on October 18, he said, Fox asked him whether he could recommend a good solicitor for insurance. At cue time of her death, Mrs Fox was insured for x3OOO by her son. Mr Sefton-Cohen said that the suggestion of the prosecution was that at this time Fox was in desperate need of money.