SISTERS' DEATH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1942, Page 6

SISTERS' DEATH

MURDER SUSPECTED

TRAGEDY AT WAIROA

(PA) NAPIER, this day. What is apparently a case of double murder was discovered in Wairoa last night, when the bodies of Brigadier Annie Smythe and her sister, Miss Rosamond Smythe, were found m a house in Queen Street, Wairoa. with tine heads battered in wnh an iron poker.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. D ) Cummings. arrived by plane this morning, and left immediately for Wairoa, accompanied by police photographers and finger-print experts.

All the available detective force in Napier and Hastings, and also the inspector of police, is already at the scene.

The dead people had not been seen since August 18, but the windows were all open, and the lights had been burning day and night.

Concern having been, expressed regarding the non-appearance of the occupants, the police last night visited the local Salvation Army hall which is also used as the living quarters by the officer in charge, states a P.A. message from Wairoa. On gaining entry Constable King found in the sitting room the bodies of Brigadier Smythe and her sister. The circumstances point to both having met death bv other than natural causes, as the Dodies showed signs of severe battet-ing, a weapon being found nearby.

Sergeant Moore communicated with Napier and early this morning a party of detectives arrived in charge of Detective-Sergeant Revell, and immediately commenced investigations. Other officers are expected this morning and full inquiries are being made.