The Express. — 1866-05-11 (London, England)

URDER.  On Saturday, the 28th April, Mr. Blum, the second master at the Bradford High School, disappeared very mysteriously from his accustomed haunts : and, notwithstanding the most diligent inquiries,ike terse of hie. could be found. Various reasons led his friends to suppose that he must have met with foul play—that he was either dead or under compulsory restraint. He was a gentleman of correct habits, and regular in the discharge of his professional duties. Inquiries were instituted in Leeds, Hull,fitanchester, and Liverpool, and the policewere stimulated toexertthemselves to find him. But no trace was found of the missing gentleman till Monday of last week, when a body was discovered by two young girls at Hoylake, • village near the mouth of the Mersey, nin. miles from Birkenhead and four from New Brighton. Toe body was lain on a rock, the throat cut on both sides. An inquest was held the next or the following day, but as the deceased was unknown, and there were no circumstances in connection with the death in possession of the jury, a verdict was returned that he bad died by his own hand. The doctor who bad examined the body, however, said hie physiological development would lead to a quite opposite conclusion. The body was kept unburied, to give his friends the opportunity of identifying him. The police authorities at Birkenhead on Monday had their attention drawntoanandvertisement, describing Mr. Blum, in • London newspaper (an advertisement appeared in several London and provincial papers), and communicating with the Bradford police, two of Mr. Blum's Mends started for Liverpool on Tuesday, and on Wednesday identified the body as that of their deceased friend, Mr. Blum. From the investigation which has since been made,and from circumstances which are known in Bradford, there is grave reason to believe that the verdict of the jury would have been very different could they have had before them all the facts which are now known, for there is no conceivable reason to have led to suicide, ' while all the circumstances point to the theory of murder. From the arrangements deceased had made it is certain, in the first place, that he hurriedly decided to go to Liverpool, and that he contemplated but a short visit. The circumstances, too, of the finding of the body point too plainly to the suspicion that he met with foul play. It is known that he must have had several pounds on hun when he left Bradford, but only Bs. were found in hie pocket, and no purse. His gold watch and chain also were missing, all his letters (which he invariably carried with him), and even his spectacles. Again, though • lengthened and careful search was made, no instrument which could have inflicted the wounds could be discovered, while be could not possibly, on the supposition of suicide, have thrown it into the deep water. However, the police are now on the alert to search the affair to the bottom. A reward will probably be offered, and it is to be hoped that the apparent murder will be brought to light. The watch is a small gold Geneva lever, with gold face, and numbered 7,213. The gold Albert chain had a seal, or other pendant, attached by a steel ring.