MYSTERIOUS MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2320, 14 June 1886, Page 2

MYSTERIOUS MURDER.

. A more cold-blooded and mysterious outrage has seldom beon'chrciflod in ' Melbourne than that which was "enacted ' on Saturday night within a few feet of 1 one of the busiest of the suburban, thoroughfares. At ten o'clock on that 1 evening a hay and corn dealer named Jas. Lane, ocoupying a small store on Simpson's road, Collingwoud, whilst locking up the place, preparatory to' leaving the premises for the night, was struck down by an unknown hand. A few minutes later he. was found lytin* quite unconscious with his head' upojjfcx his breast, and a terrible wound forthe left temple, .through which his' biaiu was protruding, ■ aiid froiii which blood was streaming . A canvas bag, in which Lane was supposed to have carried his takings for tho day, was found < empty beside him, He waßatonce 1 taken to the hospital, where his wound . < was pronounced mortal, and he died without recovering coußcioushcss. Lauo was in business us a hay and corn merchant, and it was his habit Wlook the store at night, and to take his money home with him in a canvas bag. A young man who assisted in the store left tho place on Saturday at eight'o'clock, . and Jjano remained to finish the day's business till ten o'clock, at which hour he was accustomed on Saturdays to close punctually. The store is approached from the street by a gateway. It would ' appear that Lane had put up tho shutters oi'id secured the Btore for tWnight, and 1 waß just leaving the place by the side 1 door referred to, with the money bag in , his hand the books under his arm, when he was suddenly attacked, struck down, ; and robbed. At about 10 o'clock a Mrs Dower, the wife of a storekeeper living--1 next door, was nursing her baby to sleep ■ within a dozen feet of the spot where' 1 Lane fell, when, she heard.,. what Bhe 1 described as a slight- rustling sound, followed immediately by sound of moas* , ing coining fr»m the yard close by.,Jj6 minute afterwards her husband, who'lflß' 1 been for a walk, came- in with a young - man named George Wright, and J she told them of.. the strange 1 1 noises Bhe had 'heard. "Taking & \ ' ! candle, the three went into Lane's yards : and there, lying between the doorway and the fence, was the unfortunate store--1 keeper. He had fallen against a'water trough that stood behind the gate, and was lying in a half sitting posture, with his head upon his breaat, and a Btroam of blood flowing from a'terrible gash which had been inflicted on the side of the head. The account books were lying on . 1 the ground close by, and the canvas bag . wm also found there empty. The poor fellow was quite unconscious, and, with the assistance of a couple of policemen who happened to be within call, jie was removed with all speed to the Hospital; There he was attended by one of the House Surgeons, and subsequently Dr. James performed an operation. Tho left part of the skull about the temple he found to bo fearfully shattered, and th} brain was lacerated, It seemed to hm that the wound had been cauaed blow from some sharp instrument delivered with very great force. From the : - very outset the case was pronounced to be hopeless. It iB stated that a young, woman who had been staying with Mrs Lane for a few days was passing the store, at about five minutes to ten o'clock, and saw a women in the store, but noKman. Upon reaching home she mentioned this jf. to Mrs Lane, who put on her ulstor, and ,&L went across to tho store. When Bhe gotkT there her husband was lying unconscious, v and Bhe was able only to see him taken away to the hospital. Tho police have no duo to the murderer. A reward of £IOO has been offered, It is believed chat Lane's assailant came in and wont away again over the back fence, A dray was' standing in the yard of the store at ashort distance from the door, and It is thought that the robber hid behind it and waited for Lane's appearance. The spot where Lane was found was within six feet of the street. A minute or two before he was pioked up two policomon passed along the footwalki One of them heard a slight noise in Lano's yard, arid remarked it to his companion. - ThM listened for a moment but the Bound vBL ■ not repeated, and agreeing that It w3* probably a dog they passed on. There werono marks of a struggle about the '■ place. The watch that Lane wore was ! hanging over his shoulder, as though the robber had failed to secure it in his haste to get away, When searched' afterwards the money found in Lane's pooketa amounted only to 3s 9d. It was at--.first' - thought that there was L4O or LBO in the. bag, but that is now doubtful, though : from the fact of his carrying it with him ; it is probable he had a considerable sum. ;., r