July 8th will mark the 63rd anniversary of one of the Bahamas’ most famous crimes: the unsolved murder of millionaire Sir Harry Oakes. While a casual roam around the television these days will produce more than enough sordid stories of conspiracy, murder, and mayhem, this particular story still has legs for a number of reasons:


• It remains unsolved after 63 years;
• It involves British royalty;

• It involves some family names still prominent in Nassau;
• It involves persons allegedly connected to Mafia boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano;

• It took place during World War II, when many nations took particular note of the Nazis and Adolph Hitler’s gang in Germany.


The Nassau Tribune editor, John Marquis, has recently written a book on the case called Blood and Fire, which I admittedly have not read. Several locals familiar with the story have commented that Mr. Marquis did an admirable job in the book. However, I did run across a website recently that outlined the whole affair quite well and think it’s worth a look for anyone interested in such things. The cast of characters alone should peak your interest:


1) Edward VIII of England, The Duke of Windsor and first Royal Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahamas;


2) Axel Wenner-Gren, Swedish-born industrials who was one of the richest men in the world in the 1930s. Wenner-Gren was placed on a watch list by the US and Britain due to his friendship with Nazi Hermann Goering, whose wife was Swedish. Wenner-Gren's company, ALWEG, built the original Disneyland Monorail System in 1959 and the Seattle Center Monorail in 1962.


He lived in the Bahamas and was a close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.


3) Harold Christie, namesake of the existing real estate company in the Bahamas, H.G. Christie. Christie was a good friend of Oakes, and made a fortune selling land in the Bahamas to Oakes. According to reports, Christie was also sleeping in the room next Sir Harry’s on the night the murder occurred.


4) Frank Marshall, reported representative for Mafia boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano, who wanted Christie to convince Oakes and the Duke to push for casino gambling in the Bahamas.


5) Various other colorful characters such as notorious Mob financier Meyer Lansky; and playboy and Oakes son-in-law (originally charged with the murder then acquitted after a trial) Count Marie Alfred Fouquereaux de Marigny.