The Northern Guardian. — 1898-12-09 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

GAMEWATCHER BRUTALLY  MURDERED.  THE BODY FOUND COVERED WITH LEAVES AND TREE BRANCHES.  Yesterday afternoon a brutal murder of 0, game' watcher named George Schollic came to light. Saboltic, who was in the employ of Captain J. B. "owes, of Wydon Burn, near Hexham, has been missing since Tuesday, and although a search was made for him on Wednesday, nothing was seen of nim until yesterday, when his dead body was found by the side of a roadway leading to the Yarridge steeplechase ground, and about a mile south of the town of Hexham. Captain Greenway and Mr J. Oswald Head, J.P., were yesterday shooting over the coverts, when the leaders came upon the dcad oody of the deceased shortly after midday. Captain Greenway and Mr geed brought infornaation to the Hexham Police Station about half-past 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Police-Superintendent Robertson at once accompanied Captain Greenway to the scene of the tragedy. They found the body carefully coverd with branches of trees, whim, and leaves: indeed, the trees seemed to have been stripped of branches for a distance of some 50 yards to pnocure this material with which to conceal the body from the view of passers-by. On removing those branches, whins, etc., a terrible sight was revealed, the deceased having been dreadfully shot about the head, upper part of the body, and arms. The body was conveyed on the police ambulance by tSergt. Bigglars and Police-Constables Fortune, Clark, and Lows, and removed to the Causey Hill Farm (Mr John Flana.garis's). Here the body was stripped by Dr J. A. Jackson, of Hexham, who had acoompanied Supt. Robertson and Captain Greenway to the place. It was found that deceased was dreadfully shot in the head, the charge having entered the left ear, the ear being cut in two, the right arm had been shot and the arm broken, and also the upper part of the breast, neck, and shoulders had been shot; apparently more barrels than one had been fired, and that, too, at a short distance. The police believe that the crime was committed about noon on Tuesday last, as the deceased man was seen passing the Hexhosn reservoir, which is a short distance below wher the body was found, on his return from Hexham market, where he had been selling some poultry. As Schol watch,- money, and even his whistle, were found upon him, it is clear that robbery was not the motive of the crime. ane police fix the time— (Anse on midday on Tuesday—from the fact that Schollic was never seen alive after that time, and shots were heard in that locality about half-past 11 o'clock on the morning of that day. Some spots of blood were seed on the roadway where the body was found.  As already stated, Sehollic was carrying a basket and had no gun with him. He was a widower, and lived at a cottage known as Mount Pleasant, with his daughter, his cottage being situated by he side of a quiet highwuy—one of the roads mat lead from Hexham to the ateeplecha.se ground. Deceased was about 48 years of age, and was well-known in the town and district. Up to last night the rolice had made no r_srrests. The Coroner has been communicated with by telegraph, and will probably hold an inquest today.