THE FIRE MYSTERY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 133, 18 March 1939, Page 2

THE FIRE MYSTERY

REMAND ON UNUSUAL CHARGE. RENEWAL OF BAIL GRANTED. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND 1 , March 17. There was a wild rush for admission to the public section of the Polieo Court this morning when James Arthur Talbot, - a labourer, aged 38, was charged, on remand, that on or about February 10 he did improperly interfere with a dead human body, namely, the body of Patrick Henry Shine. Tho crowded courtroom became strangely Silent as the charge was read. Mr J. Terry appeared for Talbot. Detective-Sergeant Walsh asked for a further remand until March 24. “The police have not completed inquiries,” he said, “and if counsel has no objection the remand can ho made to March 30.” Mr Terry said he had no objection, provided the police would he ready to proceed on March 30, as tho Easter vacation followed soon after. Mr Walsh: I cannot give an indication we can go on. Considerable inquiries have yet to be made. Mr Terry: Will the police meet .the position in regard to bail? This man is a stranger, and finding two sureties each of £2OO is impossible, as one might anticipate. The -Magistrate (Mr C. R. Orr Walker) said that without consent he could only remand for eight days. Mr • Terry consented to Jslarch 30. The Magistrate: It is to be hoped that the police will he ready to proceed then. Bail will he renewed. Mr Terry: Does your Worship feel disposed to. reduce the , hail ? The Magistrate: I cannot see my way to do that. Talbot was taken from the Court in a police car containing three detectivesergeants. THE SEARCH FOR McKAY. DOMINION BEING COMBED. % CHRISTCHURCH, March 17. The search for Gordon Thomas McKay, a Sydney business man and. the alleged victim of the Piha fire mystery, has extended to Christchurch. Dominion-wide inquiries on a scale unparalleled in New Zealand crime history are being carried out with meticulous detail. Armed with a head-an d-slioulders photograph of .McKay and a sample of his handwriting, Detective J. J. Halcrow lias this week canvassed every hotel in the city. He has shown the photograph and handwriting to publicans in a hope that McKay might have hooked in at a local hotel.