Widnes Examiner. — 1902-08-29 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SUSPECTED MURDER OF A WARRINGTON MAN.  Shocking Discovery in Natal,  News has been received of the suspected murder at Hee Cape of a single man named James O'Connor, aged 37 years, who formerly resided with his parents at 18, Friar'r-green, Warrington. The deceased was a joiner, and served his appreeticethip with the late Mr John Edward Wright. In 1890, however, be left for South Africa, and was employed at the mines near Johannesburg. Upon tha Boer war breaking cur he had a natural dosire to fight for the country of his birth, and saw service with the Imperial Light Horse. Now that the war I. over and the country settling down .cornos the tragic news of his death, the details of which are contained in the following extract from "The Natal Mercury," dated Wednesday, July 23rd :--" The Maritzburg police were yesteirday busy carrying on inquiries concerning the death of a man whose body was found on the previous afternoon in the long grass, at the side of York-road, not far from the Cremorne Hotel. Constable Musgrove discovered the body. The skull was smashed, as though the man bad been eruck on the top of the head with some heavy instrument, and there were evidetcss that he had been lEcked about the body. Spread out under the head was a Manehestot mar. It was ascertained that the deceased, a man of about 515 7in in height, and 34 years of age, was Jame O'Ocnaor, and had been in the Imperial Light Horse. He was wearing a grey quit, army ammunition boots, and s soldier's belt. rhe pockets WACO turned out, but en the body or near by were found a tobacco pouch, 3d. a box of matches, a screwdriver, and a foot rule. It is evident that the bady must have been carried some distance to the spot where it was found. O'Connor had visited Cremorne Hotel frequently of late, and on Sunday afternoon was taere with acquaintances. some at the latter have communicated with the police, and state that O'Connor left the hotel at nine o'clock on Sunday night. The landlord, however, denies this statement, declaring that at that hour he, with his family, were tubed. The pollee have also been informed that O'Connor had an altercation with a man at the hotel during the evening. Inspector Barron, with Sergr ant Williamson sad Detective hmith of the C.1.D., made an inspection of the spot, and plans were prepared. Sergeant-Detective Russell and others are also engaged in the case. The circumstances point to a deliberate murder, but it Is possible that the death may he the outcome of a brawl, and that the assailants turned out deceased's pockets in order to throw off suspicion from themselves. On s farther search of the body a sum of money was found.  The deceased's father lute had confirmation of these particulate from another source,and there is no diubt to their accuracy.  COMMERCIAL FAlLllRES.—Accordinmto " Kemp'a Metleantile Gazette," the number of New Bankruptcy Proceedings in England and Wales gazetted during the week ending August 23rd, was 82. The number in the corresponding week •f last year w. 81.8b01,111g gn jßeretill of 1, being a net decrease in 1902, tl date, of 44. _  On Saturday last, Messrs J W B31:1900. Limited, tho well known watohmakers of Ludgate Hill, London, had the honour of showia: His Imperial Majasty the Shah of Persia, at Marlborough Houseopecimens of flee English watches of their manufacture, frosa which His Majesty was pleased to wake sevoral solutions.