The Shortland Murder.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4804, 2 June 1884, Page 2

The Shortland Murder.

Mail papers contain the following with reference to the murder committed by Hugh Shortland. A cable despatch to the New York World from London, under date May 7th, is to the following effect:—Aterrible tragedy ia reported to-day from Devonshire. Hugh Shortland, a rich barrister, from Australia, has been spending the past few months in that county, enjoying a vacation. He made the acquaintance of Miss Dimes, the daughter of a. wealthy country gentleman, connected with some of the most aristocratic families, and proposed marriage to her. Her father, however^ objected to Shortlaod's attentions, having heard some disreputable stories aboui the barrister's habits, which Mr Dimes had been convinced were too much those of a dissipated aad profligate man. Shortland, being clever in address and skilled in intrigue, managed to induce Dimes to postpone his final decision until he could be convinced that his impressions were erroneous, and thus maintained his entree at the residence. Taking advantage of opportunities afforded by this probation, tho Australian pressed his suit with the young lady, and .finally induced her to elope with him, and they were ciaiy married. Soon after the elp.j^aaenfc the young lady's dead body was found in a pond on her father's estate. The head was battened in, in a way that might have b,een caused by a violent suicidal plunge into the pond, or by a single heavy blow ' with a blunt broad instrument, in the handi of another person. About the time the body was discovered Shortland, it was reported, left Devonshire, having told several persons before the discovery that his professional engagements made it

necessary for him to return at once to Australia. It was generally supposed that Mrs Shortland had become morbid by brooding over her estrangement from her father, and the long prospective absence of her husband after so brief an experience in married life, and had com* mitted suicide while in a state of despondency. This view was confirmed by a letter received from Shortland soon after the finding of the body, which was dated Brindisi, Italy, where Europ9an voyagers take the Orient Navigation Company's steamer for the Levant, Suez Canal, and Australia. The letter was full of loving messages to Mrs Shortland, and stated that the writer had hada successful voyage thus far, and was about to; embark from Brindisi for Australia. ThisV; . Liter completely lulled all suspicion which / ;'i might have been entertained, and the coroner's jury found a verdicbW Mrs Shortla-nd's coming to her death by suicide. To-day, however, Shortland was , recognised at Plymouth, and as it was evident he could not possibly have returned from Australia if he had sailed at the v time he had stated in his Brindisi letter, investigation was begun, and'it'was soon ascertained that he had. nevei; left England at all since his marriage; and had written the Brindisi letter at Plymouth, and sent it under cover to a friend at Brindisi, having it re-mailed^ there in order to cover his tracks. Shorti|nd was promptly arrested, and taken back to Devonshire, where a trial, which promises to be one of the most sensational in English criminal records, will be held. All efforts to find a reason for the murder have thus far failed, and Shortland refuses to make any utterances upon the subject.