MURDER MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 10

MURDER MYSTERY.

SEARCH FOR CLUES. — iAN APPEAL TO MOTORISTS. MAORI COUNCIL'S INQUIRY.. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) •' WHANGAREI, this day. 4 The police investigating the murder of Mr. E. S. Nelson, who was found shot on his Waihou Valley farm on Tuesday of last week, are anxious to locate the driver of a car which travelled down the Waihou Valley on the night of the murder, and which, it is thought, passed Nelson's gate between 7.40 and 7.50 oclock. The car is believed to have been a touring model, and if the driver would come forward and make a statement, the police, it is thought, would be assisted in their investigations. The police also request that any other motorists who passed the farm on the night of the tragedy should volunteer statements.

Scattered showers this morning again hindered the progress of constables working on the drive and in the vicinity of the> scene of the murder. Late yes'terday afternoon a start was made by the police in clearing scrub on either side of the main road within a few yards of Nelson's gate. After cutting and searching the police party is systematically burning the rubbish and examining the ashes. General investigations in an endeavour to solve the mystery are proceeding tirelessly. Senior members of the police staff "engaged continue to take statements from anyone who may have had the connection with the case and the thoroughness with which inquiries are being prosecuted show that nothing is being left undone in an attempt to bring to a successful conclusion one of the longest man hunts in the history of North Auckland. There is a feeling among some old residents of the district that the psychology of the native mind is doing a "great deal to hamper investigations. One old settler remarked to-day that as soon as a Maori is questioned by the police •he at once regards himself as under suspicion, even if he knows that the police realise that he possesses a water-tight alibi and has only an innocent connection with the crime. The opinion is also held by those who have a wide knowledge of the natives that had the police been able to secure the services of a detective with a sound knowledge of the Maori language more accurate statements would have been obtained.

Another factor which it is believed is hampering the investigations is the" reluctance of some Maoris to give evidence, as they are afraid that if they incriminate another native they may render themselves liable to vengeance from the relatives of the person placed s under suspicion.

Apparently no useful fingerprint evidence has been secured as a result oi the inspection of the many guns collected by the police. In this connection difficulties have been encountered owing to the communal nature of native life, and the fact' that any gun may have been used by any one of a number of persons. Maori Council's Co-operation. As reported yesterday, leading Maoris of the district, at the invitation of the police, decided that an inquiry into the murder should be held by the Hokianga District Maori Council with a view if possible, to sheeting the crime l*me' to the guilty person or persons if thev were members of the native race, or to obtaining evidence that would enable the police to conduct their own investi-

gations to a successful issue. The council appointed a special committee to call together all those Maoris who would be likely to furnish information that might give a clue to the perpetrator ot the crime, or to any person who could, even in th» most remote way, be brought under suspicion. A meeting of the committee was held yesterday in the house of Mr. J. Heperi, a Mormon elder who is held in high esteem by Maoris and Europeans. The members of the committee were Messrs. F. Heperi, chairman of the Hokianga District Maori Council, J. Heperi, P. Muriwai, P. Kingi, N. Anderson and Moa Harris. The sitting commenced at 10 o'clock yesterday morning and ended at 7 o'clock last evening. A number of Maoris were examined one at a time. The- statements were made and recorded in the Maori language, but at the termination of the meeting were translated into English. They will be passed 011 to the police. The utmost thoroughness was observed, as was evidenced by the fact that only one person was interviewed at a time, while others were recalled a second time when a point of importance was in doubt. The council sat continuously, without even delaying for refreshments. At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman, Mr. F. Heperi, said the committee ccrald not reach any definite decision eri -the statements submitted, which were "in some ea*cs contradictory. In 'other c irses tliey contained assertions that had to Tdc verified. Broadly speaking, however, the statements could be divided into twa sorts, those disclaiming any knowledge the crime or of any person connected with it, and those which seemed to infer that the disclaiming parties had possibly not divulged all they might.