Brutal Murderer Still At Large At Wairoa

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14859, 22 December 1948, Page 3

Brutal Murderer Still At Large At Wairoa

Wide Search By Police Party

Motive For Crime Remains Obscure

(P.A.) Wairoa, Dec. 21. The murderer of Mr Herbert William Brunton, aged 69, former railway guard, who yvas brutally killed in a hut at Wairoa on Thursday night, is Still at large. A force of 19 police, mostly detectives, is continuing investigations under the leadership of Inspector J. Bruce Young, of Wellington. So far there has not been any indication of a motive for the crime. The police have found a little monby in the hut, and it is believed that this was all Mr Brunton would be likely to have there. It is not considered that robbery was the intention of the murderer.

Neighbours and friends of Mr Brunton say that he was kindly, retiring and sober and a reliable worker. They do not believe he had any enemies. inspector Young said he had no statement to make about the progress of police investigations, but he hoped anyone who had any information which might have a bearing on the case would come forward voluntarily with it. A woman thought to have been seen near the hut on Thursday night has been interviewed by the police and has given a satisfactory explanation of her movements.

Last night three carloads of police went to the Wairoa cemetery, about half a mile out of the borough, in response to information that a prowler had been seen there. They spent some time at the cemetery,

but it is believed that the search was fruitless. The police are still seeking the person who shone a torch into a window and disturbed a neighbour of Mr Brunton on Thursday night.