Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1883-05-19 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

RAILWAY MYSTERY AT CHESTER.  .)n the arrival of the Ruston express from Holyhead at Chester, at two o'clock in the morning, the ticketcollector discovered that the window of a • third-class compartment had been shivered to pieces. Further Investigation revealed bloodstains on the footboard, immediately beneath the broken window. A man had evidently been travelling in the compartment,. two hats and some articles of clothing were left behind. Foul play being soepected, the authorities at Chester commnnicated with those at Crewe, where the train last stopped, and an they could throw no light on the mystery, Inspector Price took an engine, and proceeded along the line. About a mile beyond fleeston Station, and halfway between Cheater and Crewe, the inspector came upon ohs dead body of a man, lying In the six-foot way. There was • wound on the head. The body was taken to Ch.ter, an examination of the clothes was made, and some testimonials to character were found, in the name of "3 C. 0. Atkinson, 1, Richmond-street, Dublin." Only one shilling and six pence were found in the deceased's pockets. A Chester correspondent says Lieut.Colonel Hammersley, Chief Constable of Cheshire, assisted by Inspector Downee and Mr. Carr, of the district superintendent's office at Chester, have been closely investigating the matter. The compartment presents no appearance of a struggle, but the mystery is that a porter, at Crewe, declares that he handed the parcel which was found in the carriage at Chester to a passenger at Crewe who was upon the platform when the train came in. He has Cecil the body of deceased, but says that was not the man who was carrying the parcel. It is suspicion., too, that if deceased wished to commit suicide he should have travelled the distance from linston almost to Chester without carrying out his p.p.. The deceased lea broad-shouldered man, and great difficulty must have been experienced in getting the body through the window of the door. The matter is further complicated by the circumstanceo that the man might have got out through the door as it was unlocked at Chester, although the authorities at Crewe declare it was locked there when the train was devatched. Mr. it. Churton, coroner for Cheshire, in due coarse opened an inquest upon the body of deceased. Mr.R. Atkinson, of 2, Richmond-st., North Dublin, identified the gody as that of MS brother. The Latter had been a commission agent. He lived on excellent terms with his wife, and witneas knew of no reason why he should commit suicide. Inspector Price said that on the arrival of the 2.12 express train at Chester he saw a window of a carriage smashed, and the aperture was large nongh to admit a man's body. There was a mark of blood on the panels, and another blood stain over the bottom of the coach. Subsequently he took a light engine, went up the line, and found the body. Thom. Atkin, a detective inspector, stated that he saw Mr. Atkinson (the dec..ed) at Crewe on the morning of his death. He was under the influence of drink The coroner here reprimanded the witness for allowing a man to get into a train when intoxicated. The impelt was adjourned.  Moues