NO ARREST YET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 7

NO ARREST YET.

SHOOTING MYSTERY.

Further Evidence at " Tattooed

Arm" Inquest. MURDER VICTIM'S MOVEMENTS (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, June 13. The detectives engaged in investigating the murder of Mi , . Reginald Holmes, the principal witness for the Crown in the "tattooed arm" murder mystery who was found in his motor car on the waterfront fatally shot yesterday, are not much nearer to making an arrest. An examination of the fingerprints found on the door of the motor car afforded no clue to the identity of the wanted man. The police are guarding the-home of the relative of the late Mr. Holmes, and other witnesses at the inquest on the murdered man James Smith are being afforded police protection. The inquest was continued to-day into the death of James Smith, whose tattooed left arm was disgorged by a captive shark at Coogee Aquarium on April 2~>. Mr. Clive Evatt again appeared for Patrick Brady, who is charged with murdering Smith.

The Government's medical officer, Dr. Arthur Palmer, said he had examined the arm and he had not the slightest doubt it had been severed with a knife at the shoulder, probably after the victim was dead.

The disarticulation had boon done by some person other than a qualified surgeon, said witness. The limb had not been bitten from the body by the shark, nor was there any sign indicating that the victim* had (lied from poisoning.

On the forearm there was a tattoo mark representing two boxers facing each other. They were outlined in dark 'blue, with red trunks. The limb was in a good state of preservation.

A piece of killick, or anchor rope, was hanging from the wrist, where it had been secured by a clove hitch.

Albert Hobson, fisherman, said that on April 17 he caught the shark which disgorged the arm. The capture was made off Coogce. The shark had attempted to devour a smaller shark which was caught on witness' line and had become entangled in the lino itself. He presented it to the C'oogee Aquarium.

Police fingerprint experts said that fingerprint impressions from the hand were identical with those of James Smith, who in 1932 had come under the notice of the police in connection with alleged illegal betting.

Identification of Accused.

Sidney Allen, musician, said he had arranged to meet Smith at a city hotel early in April in order to discuss some patents held by Smith. Witness saw him on April 8 and arranged to meet him on the following day, but Smith did not appear, and he had not seen him since.

Harry Lcvi, barman at the Hotel Cecil, 'Cromilhi, said that on April 8 Smith had entered the bar and inquired for a man named, Williams. Witness gave him a message left by Williams which stated that the latter was at the local wharf.

Witness was asked whether ho could see Williams in the Court, whereupon he pointed to Brady, remarking: "That is the man."

Albert Ward, insurance agent, said he had seen Smith and Brady together on many occasions at Cronulla, but he had not seen Sn: : Mi since early in April.

Mrs. Gladys Liliam Smith, widow of deceased, recalled, said the tattoo marks of two boxers on a piece of flesh which had been shown to her at the mortuary were identical with those on the arm of her husband.

Edward Smith, brother of deceased, also identified the tattoo marks. He said his brother James had invited him to go fishing at Cronulla on April 8 with a man "from another State" who, he had said, "possessed means." James, however, failed to keep the appointment and witness had not seen or heard from him since.

Witness added that later ho had road in the newspapers about the discovery of the arm in the aquarium bearing tattoo marks similar to those of his brother James. Thereupon he had given information to the police.

The inquest was then adjourned.

Member of a family which has been building boats in Auckland for three generations, Mr. Reginald Holmes has, since the death of his father in 1922, after 34 years of boat-building in Sydney, been' managing a flourishing business in conjunction with his brother Leslie, who figured in the harbour chase on May 20, of which the murder victim was the central figure. Mr. Holmes' aunt, Mrs. J. W. Atkin, lives at 15, Queen's Parade, Devonport, in the house in which his father was born. Mr. Holmes himself was born in Sydney, and visited the Dominion only once, in March of last year. Subsequently Mr. and Mrs. Atkin went to Sydney, and travelled hundreds of miles in Mr. Holmes' car, spending considerable time with him and Ins family. He had two sons. Mr. Holmes, as was stated in the cable announcing his murder, was one of Australia's leading boat-builders. His hobby was speedboat racing, and he owned several exceptionally fast boats, which were always kept ready for emergencies. He had raced with success in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and held a number of important trophies. Narrow escapes from drowning had not served to clamp his ardour.

Mr. Holmes' grandfather, Mr. William Holmes, sen., was a member of the boatbuilding firm of Holmes Bros., which was interested in the first ferry service across the Auckland Harbour. The firm constructed the Waitemata, first steamer to be built at Devonport. also the steamers Enternrise I. and Enterprise 11. His son. Mr. Wm. Holmrfi, inn., father of the late Mr. Reginald Holmes, was also a boat-builder in Auckland prior- to his departure for Sydney £1 years ago.