AN AUCKLAND SENSATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8131, 4 May 1906, Page 5

AN AUCKLAND SENSATION.

A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. AUCKLAND, May 3. James Fenwiok, son of Mr Robert Fenwick, of the Arm of Messrs Menu and Co., who has been missing since last Thursday, was found huddled-UD in a beap on the floor of an outhouse in Mount Street. How he got there is surrounded in mystery and is difßoult of solution. When he was found his band was doubled under him, and the flesh appeared to have been eaten away, and the bones were protruding through the skin. His clothes had- evidently not been removed for days. There was a terrible cut penetrating to the bone on the right temple, with two lesser wounds on the forehead. It wab evident that be bad been in the cramped position for some time—possibly since Thursday. The young man had obviously been without anything to eat or drink, which accounts for bis shockingly emaoiated condition. The door of the shed was looked from within. There is nothing to show how he got into the shed, bu*. one theory is that he was attacked on the street, and ran to the outhouse from bis assailant. Having locked himself in, he probably collapsed from exhaustion and loss of blood. He was removed to a private hospital, but died this mjrning. He must have gone through a terrible ordeal. The outhbuse in which was found stands at the foot of a flight of steep concrete steps. It is preeumed he fell down the steps and sustained the wounds £on his forehead, and Jay on h's right Bide for several days. The wounds are suuh as could have been caused by falling forward on the steps. LATER. The mystery surrounding the death of James Fenwick has not yet been cleared up. In fact the affair appears to grow more mysterious. The latrine in which deceased'was found is at the foot of a flight of "conurete steps, and one theory is that be fell down these steps injuring his head, aud then got into the latrine,aatomatically looked the door and collapsed. The great reticence of the police and doctors and all conoerned, however, seems to indicate that the aocident theory is not considered satisfactory. It appears that the doctor asked deceased if the wound was the result of a blow or a fall, and he nodded his head, whioh,„ of coarse, might b'ave meant either. The doctor then asked if it was the result of a row .in the street and deceased shook his head. It, is alleged that deceased had visited several hotels on the night when last seen. Some comrades offered to see him home, and he deolined. He was not seen again until found yesterday in an outhouse. The latest information is to the effect that a six-chambered revolver with one chamber discharged was found in the latrine, and it is alleged that deceased said to his brother on the morning before his disappearance: "Oh, I am going to chuck all this." The proceedings at the inquest to morrow will probably be formal, and an adjournment will be ,asked for to give the police an opportunity of continuing their investigations. The affair has caused a Dainful sensation in town.