THE BLENHEIM MYSTERY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2957, 23 July 1888, Page 2

THE BLENHEIM MYSTERY.

Longman, Long or Smith, The Marlborough Express gives the following particulars of the sensational story in connection with the fire at Blenheim on the 19th inst. After referring to the fire ut the Chinaman's on the same night the local paper goes on to say

While all this was going on, bowover, A DRAMA was (according to the account given by the victim) being enacted up the Maxwell road at a tour rooiued house belonging to Mr W. Compton. This was occupied by a Mr Longman, who arrived from South Yarra, near Melbourne about a fortnight ago, with the intention of starting a poultry farm, and who was expecting his parents oyer in a few days. The first intimation of the affair was got by Mr Walter Litchfield and Mr Sydney Norgrove, The former gentleman who was aroused by the bell was preparing to go down to the scene, when he observed signs of fire in a cottago near his own residence, and on running up observed that MrCompton's cottage was on fire Ongoing round to the bacs he was utterly astounded at seeing on the ground a man whom he recognised as tho occupier, Mr Longman boond hand and foot and gabbed.!: He released the man, whoso legs were tied together at the ankles by a cloth and his arms behind his back at the wrists, by a woollan comforter, his mouth being securely gagged with some woollen stuff, By this time the flames had got complete mastery of the house, and a great many people had gathered round. The released man was taken into the adjoining house of Mrs Shepherd, where he told the following: —Before relating this, however, we may say that Mr Longman is an ablebodied "good lump of a'man," as was remarked idiomatically by a bystander, and that when found he had on his shirt, drawers, and boots. There were no marks, scratches, or other indications af violence about him, though he stretched his arms painfully and complained of soreness, He was laid on a couch in Mrs Shepherd's house, and from that easy resting place he related the following story to a small crowd, consisting of the police and tho reportors, and ono or two otbor persons, He said he was out for an hour or so till about eleven o'clock, and he believed he left the front door unlocked. .On his return ho took his coat off and subsequently went to- bed in a front room as usual. About two o'clock, as lie believed, ho was

BY A SOUXD IN THE irouSS, and on rising, he put on his boots only, tliicl wont to the door dividing his room from tho kitchen, taking with him a cand 1?. He opened tho door and called out " Wu.o'3 there ?" but ho had hardly uttered tho words when lie was violently pushed baolc find overpowered by two men, one of them being tall and full bearded, and the other a short man. So powerful were thnjr that he could niako no distance. He hoard one say to the other" Oh .1 shoot tho-i—" But the other replied,

' MO, don't shoot hi ji, let's TIE HIM up!! This was quickly done, and ho watjleft on the floor of the kitchen, the. candle being alight, The men then decamped and in a few minutes he heard a crackling noise and noticed sraoko, Naturally agonised with terror, he made tremendous efforts to get out, and succeeded in getting through a window, when he was found as above described. While this thrilling tale was being told, Constable Franklyn found the man's clothes in a hundlo on the ground somewhere. Longman then inl'oriiic;l Sergeant Scanlan that ho had had a watch iu his vest pocket, and on that officer lookinrr for ii he f outu i ; t j U(( j gone. No trace could le fcund either of £4 in notes, which Longman said lie had in liis pocket when ho wont to bed. He was unable to give any clue to the identity of the men, but he said he believed they ware two men who had asked him for sholtor the night before and whom he had declined to accommodate.

, This extraordinary story created "a I profouud sensation" and if it was not L eagerly believed it excited a good deal of interest and horror, for if it were true it was dear that two men had , robbed and bound a fellow man and set lire to his houso and left him to bo burn/id to d.iath, Such a deed was so horrible to think of that there was a general shudder, the circumstances as related pointing to some fiendish, motive of revenge, This morning news of a atartlir." character throwing a strong li«ht of possibility upon tho theory of arson with a motive was received! A case containing drapery was found in tlio grounds of the Wesleyan Church. On finding this Mr Tatley communicated with Sergeant Scanlan, and at about half past nine he and MrT. Smale proceded to the grounds, where they found certain goods in two cases, These wero removed to the Police Station, whero Longman had arrived by' appointment with the Sergeant, and on being examined the goods were fully identified by Mr Smalo'as havin» been purchased by tho man, and he valued them at about £lo,' On Mr Smale retiring, Sergeant Scanlan arrested Longman, or (as. ho then called himself) Long, and on searching him found in his boots four or fire shillings besides gome bills aud other documents, indicating that his name was G. A, Smith, and that he had recently come from Masterton, not from Melbourne, as he had informed (some, or Sydney as lie had ; told others. Ho appeared somewhat 1 stolid, occasionally showing signs of fear 1 and dejection, The probability, in 1 fact the moral certainty, that he had 1 an accomplice is being discussed, and it • is probable (he police will flq\y keep 1 a bright look out for that individual. 1

Constable Sheary went up about half-past one, to-day, and "fossicked" round. In the course of his searchings be found two watches and two chains, These wero stuck in the corner of the Yfoodlioqso, evidently "planted," qs they wero wrapped up in tissue paper, and covered by. newspaper pasted ovep |hospot. These were at once added to the interesting collection in the Po'jco station. , lite insurauw wero On Mr Comp<

ton's house, £IOO intiie Union j and on the furniture (Long's) - £4O in the Victoria. [ : :

• (By Telegraph), Blenheim, Monday. .The man Long was brought up at the E,M, Court this morning on a charge of wilfully setting fire to a fourroomed house on Wednesday last. Ho is the hero of the" gagged and bound " story, A remand was asked for eight days on the ground that many additional circumstances have cotue to light. The evidence of a neighbor's son showed tha|; after tho fire the accused sent a note by him to a draper. asking the latter not to tell the polico what he had bought his shop, : . He was remanded till Monday next. . '