The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1886-02-26 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

CONSTABLE. =COVERT OF TUE DMA.  On Wednesday it was determined to systematically drag the Oxford Canal at Fenny Compton for the body of Police-constable Hine, whose die appearance, under very suspicious circumstancesteok place over a week ago. In order that th• dragging should be done most effectually rope: were thrown across the canal and the drago affixed to them. Men weie stationed on ho ii banks, and the drags were carefully dtawn back. ward and forward at equal distances of eite Operationswerecommenecd in the neig..bourhood of the George and Dragon, better known as the Wharf Inn, owing to the house being situated in cli.se pros mity to the canal. It was here that the missing constable was last seen when, having Nth, nessed the house cleared at ten o'clock, he left with the intention of going home, a d sin. ee of eeesne a mile. The dragging of the canal was earn on under the direction of Deputy Chief ConstAle Moth and Superinttndents Palmer and Hinde, a large fere° of police being employed. Oiher officers in p am clothes were deipatched in detachments into the district to con inn, the march among the fictis and bye-lanes. Dragging epel aiLUIII6 went on uuinterrupte thy until two u'eloce, by which time the men had reached ft bend in the canal about a quarter of a mile from the Wharf Inn. It was here that the betty of the missing constable was found. The ;nags caught the officer's great coat, and imuiedial city brought the body to the . urface. A brief examination was made as FOOla as the body ha., been deposited on the towpath. With the exception f the helmet, which was missing, Hine Wall elethed, He wore his great rent and leggings. .1 a. whistle, handcuffs, and staff were u; on Lim, slid evidently had not been used. His watch was in his pocket, and attached to it was a long &leer chain that went around the neck. Ain re careful examination of the body wheal' was al tei wank made leaves no doubt but that the metertunat policeman was brutally murdered, and his body thrown in the canal. The neck had been penetraled on the right side with some sharp instrtunent, probably a pocket-knife, the wound being exactly n the jugular vein. There are marks of a severe latow over the right eye, some injury to the ohm and nose, and a large bruise on the lenankle, caused Erobably by a severe kick. That robbery was not the motive that caused the murderers te attack Lim is proved by the constable's watch and chain being iound upon him, be-ides which he had a little money in his poisket, which had not been disturbed. The nature of his injuries would lead one to infer that an uuexpeehed and severe kick brought him to the ground, that. he was then struck on the forehead with some blunt instrument, and ta complete the work a knife—most likely the officer's' own pocket knife, which has been found near to the ,cene of the outrage— plunged into a vital part of the neck. Hine must have been attacked unawares, as his whistle was found in its customary place, and his staff lay undisturbed in his pocket. His gloves weie ale° in another pocket. The body was discovered about half-way between 11:no's house and the public. house referred to. The spot is nearly half a unite from the place where the officer's helmet was found, and where there were evidences of a struggle and blood stains. To thlow the body into the renal the murderers would have to convey it across the fill), over two fences, then across two lines of railway, and afterwards over Iwo more fences. It is consid red unlikely that it would be taken by way of the road, which would be a great diteance, and there would likewise be more risk of detection. The unfortunate officer's watch had stopped at 'eaetly six minutes past eleven, which no then' fixes the time when tie was thrown into the water. The body has be n removed to the Wharf Int), and airangements have been made for a post mortem examination. The coroner for South 'Warwickshire (Mr. Couchmau) has been infoimed of the ocourreuce, and will hold an inquest in due course. News ok the finding of the body quickly spread, and caused the greatest excitement in ihe village. No arrest has been made in connection with the tr..gio affair.