Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1881-07-09 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

TEIN ESCAPE OF LEFROY.  The Tin. eaye: The facts which have come to light respecting the outrage on the Brighton Railwily leave no doubt that • brutal murder has been cord. mitted. The extraordinary remissness of the authorities in allowing the man Lefrov to escape them has naturally given rise to much comment. It appears, from a statement made by the ticket•trAleetor, that when the train stopped at Preston Park Station, where the tickets are collected, Le f roy was observed to step out on the platform and then ri turn. The ticket.collector, on approaching him, observed that he was covered with blood. Fie then made the stirnuent already reported. He bad started, he said, from London-bridge, two other passengers being in the name compartment. One of there war an elderly gentleman the other be i the appearance of a othottqman about tO year. of  age. The old gentleman was eitting opposite to him. The only other description Lefroy could give of the other passenger was that he wore whiskers. Just before the train entered the tunnel near Beret ham a shot was fired ; be felt a blow on the head, and remembered nothing until the arrival of, the train at Preston Park. The train did not stop between Croydon and that place, and Let roy said he did not believe the passenger whom he described as a countryman fired the shot. Having made this statement, Leroy again stepped on to the platform. The ticketcollector noticed a portion of a watch-chain hanging from his boot—a circumstance which led him to remark that he had placed his watch there for 1 safety. It being found that the compartment was splashed with blood, the etationmaster sent a collector 1 ' to the Brighton Station, and the platform inspector went with Lefroy to the Town Hall and reported the occurrence to the police. Lefroy, after repeating his statement, was then taken in a cab to the County Hospital, where his wounds were dressed. The surgeon wished him to remain in the institution, but he declined to do so, on the ground that he had to attend his club in London that night. He was determined, be added, to offer a reward for the deteetion of his assailant. The party then returned to the Town Hall, Lefroy on the way purchasing a necktie and a collar in St. James's-street (he was without snob articles on leaving the train). He was questioned at the hall by several detectives, and the* went back to the terminus with a view to returning to London. By this time, however, the authorities appear to have become somewhat sus oicious, and Lefroy was taken into the superintendent's office and eserched. Two Hanoverian coins (similar to those found in the carriage), a few coppers, some silver, and several coloured cards were found upon him. The railway authorities did not feel justified in detaining him, but took the precaution to send with him a detective, named Holmes, to Croydon. When Lefroy an* his companion left the train, the former expressed a wish to go to his residence to change his clothes, as those he was wearing were disordered and stained with blood. The request appearing to be a reasonable one the officer raised no obrction, and about half-past nine o'clock they reached No. 4, Cathcart-road, Wallington, which is stated to he s young ladies' boarding school, kept by a man and his wife, the latter being related to Lefroy. The detective allowed his companion to enter the house alone, and after waiting some time found that he had changed his clothes and had left by the back way "to ace a doctor." Since then he has not been seen.