AN AUCKLAND MYSTERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7905, 22 August 1905, Page 2

AN AUCKLAND MYSTERY.

is it a case of Murder ? SUSPICIOUS SQCTURHAL WW. (JPer Press Association.} AUCKLAND, Aug. 21. About one o'clock on Saturday liuoi'iuug an old man named James Pouiton, who Kepi a boarding-house in Helicslej Street, med suuuenly,. Some mysterious allegations nave been made to the cfiect uvai death was ihe result oi.a murderous attacK by two strangers wlio visited iu« house just beiore the death ol Poulluii, who was It years 01 age, had sutured irom paraiysis, and was not in good health. ul. Murpny, who had medically attended mm, wouid have given a eerliiicate that death was due to parlaysis, but in view 01 the allegations iiit.de he would not do so, aua a post woriem was ordered. une of the boarders gtales that two i.iwi visited the house about 1 a.m. en Saturday, that a scuttle and blown nere heard, and that the old man was sia>h aiterwards discovered in a (lying condition, the mysterious Strang, ers having decamped. iliis statement; however, is flatly, contradicted .by otto inmates ol the place.. mis McPike, who states site heard two men enter the house, and afterwards heard the blows in Poulton'a *uuiu is rlatlyj contradicted by Airs i rtmrose, thq housekeeper, who was alleged to have spoken to the men, ihe latter says she was with Poulton i when he died, and he had a stroke ■ just before death, She is emphatu • that no men! entered Poulton's room, and that no blows were struct

m lupiiT. Mystery Deepens. AUCKLAND, Aug. 21. The circumstances surrounding the death of James Poulton, at lus residence in Wellesley Street, wcr# ininto by the Coronet yesturuny, [aiteiuoun, and the evidence certanuy' j added it) the mystery of the auair and was also 01 such a cnaracter as, in the opinion oi mo Coroner, to justiiy [uruier anu most exhaustive inquiries. Dr. Uirdler, who' oiatle the ppst mortem, said there was notning in the appearance of the body to indicatc loul play.. The cause of death was failure of an enlarged and laity,, heart, accelerated by congestion ot the lungs and kidneys, it was quite possible in the condition of the man * Heart for mental shock to hasten death, A blow or fail 'would do it. Ur. Murphy, who had attended the ceased for paralysis and heart trouble, said deceased 'was on tho versa of death at any moment. Mrs Charlotte McPike, who boarded at deceaseu's house, stated she was aroused from sleep by a knock at her window. She saw two men outside, who asked for rooms. She refused to admit them. Poulton subsequently, went to the door, but the men were gone. Later on the two men re-ap-peared. She recognised the voices an tnose of the previous visitors. Foul- 16 ton again went out, and asked what uicy were doing there at that time 01 night. They refused to go, and Poulton said he would put them out. Pnni 1 ? I *' Wit'rn walking into »u?. „° n V'°r- TLey seemcd to be iw tn^ g !r U , lton 111 ftont of them, rtitness did not see any struggle but could hear it all plainly. 61fc ■said and Fulton said What ! You would strike me would you ?'• . One man then went' outside and the other said ' '■ Take IhinJ m ,f !d u •" Witness heard a blow and Poulton fell. Poulton saw r il, f . SP ( oke after that " " She th <* saw the two men standing outsidetat "time VO saM Sbe "nf,f r(l lor him?" T&oS'JB ™ tffi have done for the old •- K m the house, with the exception of deceased, had been drinking. day to lllnt Tf ad J oUrne<l «« Monte inquiries, P ° )ICC to makc fur "