MELBOURNE SENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3768, 11 June 1907, Page 4

MELBOURNE SENSATION.

Diamond Merchant KiM. Struck Down In his Office. Mkujouknk, June 8. A shocking murder took place in Melbourne last evening, the victim being a well - known diamond merchant, Mr Barnett Bauer, partner in the Jinn of Bauer, Shaumer, and Bauer, importers of and dealers in precious stones. The firm does a very large business throughout Australasia, and runs its own pearling fleet at Broome (West Australia). Mr Barnett Bauer was discovered in his office, Modern Chambers, Collins street, with his skull fractured in several places. He died after being removed to the hospital. Through there are no signs of a struggle, Mr Bauer has evidently been brutally murdered. A friend, who saw Mr Bauer a tew minutes before the body was dicovered, found the door of the office locked. No one in the building heard any suspicious sounds. It is evident that the motive of the murder was robbery. Mr Bauer was in the habit of carrying a bag containing thousands of pounds’ worth of precious stones and pearls, and depositing them in a bank overnight. This bag is missing. It is stated that it contained gems worth two or three thousand pounds. There are indications that Mr Bauer was struck down when weighing diamonds in the scales on his office table. His hat is pierced where the fatal blows were struck.