SEVENOAKS MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 485, 25 September 1909, Page 3

SEVENOAKS MURDER.

AN ARREST MADE

London, Sept. 22

A man has been arrested at Maidstone on suspicion of being connected with the murder of Mrs Luard, at Sevenoaks, on August 24, 1908.

The wife of Major-General Charles E. Luard, of Ightham Knoll, Sevenoaks, Kent, was murdered while on the balcony of a summer house in lonely woods, attached to Frankfield, the residence of Mr Horace Wilkinson, at Seal Chart, Sevenoaks. Mrs Luard was shot with a revolver and robbed of three rings, the fingers being badly cut by the murderer. The murder occurred shortly after her husband had left her. They parted at a wicket gate leading to the woods, it being his intention to go to the golf house at Godden Green, about two and a half miles from Sevenoaks, to fetch some clubs, as they intended to spend some days from home. Two bullets were extracted from the head of Mrs Luard. The doctor was of opinion that she was struck from behind with a bludgeon, and then shot as she lay stunned. Owing to the failure of the police to trace the murderer, letters were sent to General Luard, and hints were made in several newspapers, to the effect that the general had killed his wife. This so preyed upon his mind that about three weeks after the tragedy he went out early one morning and threw himself under a train and was cut to pieces. He left letters declaring that he was unable longer to bear the awful accusations that he had murdered his wife.