MYSTERY OF THE MOOR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5211, 2 December 1927, Page 4

MYSTERY OF THE MOOR.

BODIES FOUND IN POND.

An abandoned four-seater motor-car '.‘ii the Moorland Road, near Abbefy Village, between Mla'ckburn and Ghorley, led to the discovery of the bodies of a man and girl in a pond, about a hundred yards away. By means of papers found on the man and the registration number of the car they were indentifled as Marion Stanhope, aged 19, of Grosvenor Street, Radcliffe, and Harold Brooks aged 24', of Bolton Road, Bury. The bodies were lying in shallow water about 100 yards from the side of the pond. They were tied together with a leather strap wound twice round their bodies, and so securely were tjiey bound that the strap had to be cut by the police. To reach the pond it would be necessary for them to climb over a wall. No messages or letters were found which would lead to a solution of the tragedy, and there was nothing in the motor-car to throw any light on the occurrence- In the man’s pockets were several club membership cards and 19s. It seems that the. couple motored to the moors where they met their deaths. They left the car, which belonged to Brooks’ father, outside the Hare and Houhds Hotel, the first building to be approached from the moorland side of the village. The girl’s brother sa ! d : “We knew that she was acquainted with Mr Brooks. She went out and did not return. It has been a great ordeal for my mother, who is a widow. She has now gone to see Mr Brooks’ relatives. We cannot give any explanation of the affair.”

The scene of the tragedy is a beauty spot of Lancashire, and is popular with picnic parties during the summer. The . pond, a large sheet of water, is in a lovely moorland setting.