Tragic Mystery.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 20, 23 January 1914, Page 5

Tragic Mystery.

WOLVERHAMPTON CRIME.

SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.! London, January 22. Reeks had a wallet containing 500 dollars, which is missing, also nine sovereigns. A gold watch was found on the body, and a scarf pin was found a few yards distant, suggesting that there had been a struggle. THE VICTIM'S RELATIVES. (Received 9.10 a.in.) London, January 22. Mrs Kent states that there was no reason for Reeks to go to IVolverhampton. He showed Ids relatives paper money on Saturday and was in the best of health and spirits. Reeks’ mother was a Southport woman, and his grandmother still resided at Swinton.

“A BRUTAL MURDER.”

(Reecived 8.55 a.m.) London, January 22

The inquest on Reeks has been adjourned. The coroner remarked that evidently it was a brutal murder.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

(Received 9.10 a.m.) London, January 22

iCt the inquest on Reeks, Mr Kent, uncle of the .victim, identified the body. He stated that Reeks reached England on Saturday from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and intended obtaining a British marine engineers certificate before returning to Sydney. Reeks spent Saturday with him at Swinton, near Manchester, and returned to the Liverpool hotel in the evening.

The inquest has been adjourned for police inquiries. The jury inspected the scene of the murder. The body was found in a ditch surrounding a pit shaft two hundred feet deep and protected by a high wall. If it was a case of suicide, it is surmised that Reeks sat on the wall, anticipating that he would fall into the shaft. ,

The evidence shows this was highly improbable. His hat was found and the wound’s don’t show signs of burnt powder. The pit is being searched for the revolver.

The ticket collector at Wolverhampton recollects two men arriving from Liverpool in the early hours of Tuesday and he believes one was Reeks. The police have a full description of the dress and appearance o fthe companion, who was aged about 30, and is believed to have come from Chicago.

The Liverpool police are endeavouring to trace the man who booked from t ie Midlands for Canada by the liner vhich sailed during the week. If he ii a passenger instructions would be st nt to secure his detention.

V.'HO BOOKED THE PASSAGE

(Received 11.35 a.m.)

London, January 22

The North-Western Company’s booking clerk at Wolverhampton stages that on Tuesday night a man presented a voucher and booked a passage on the steamer Grampian. The man’s manner was agitated. His description tallies with that of Hr ekes’ companion.

The Grampian sailed on Wednesday, and is due at St. John’s on the c Ith.

A wireless message has been deSf atyhod.

A WELL-KNOWN SYDNEY

FAMILY.

(Received 9.50 a.m.)

Sydney, January 23

Mr Walter Reeks is a well known Sydney naval architect, and it is believed there is little doubt that the : man murdered in England is his son, Kent, especially as the cable mentions he was visiting relatives named Kent. Mr Reeks’ son left Sydney ihree years ago as an engineer aboard the steamer Saxonia. The father understood ho was in Liverpool last week. The only discrepancy is the Christian name, and ho has cabled for further information.