THE MAKARAKA MURDER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 10

THE MAKARAKA MURDER.

WORK OF THE DETECTIVES. INQUEST ADJOURNED. (SFICTAI. TO "THE PE833.") GISBORNE, January 30. There has been no further development to-day regarding the murder of the little girl Murray at Makaraka. Up till a late hour last night the police were engaged 'in sifting the various reports that had como to hand throughout the Say, but sariy this morning *h© real work of concentrated and systematic search was commenced by a large number of polieo. In addition, to the ordinary cars, a number of special cars have been engaged and in these the whole countrys-.do is being combed. In addition to the local police there are a number of outside detectives engaged in the work, and further reinforcements .are coming from Auckland and Wellington. These men will soon bo on the scene of the crime. Not only will the pick of the local men be engaged in the work, but some of the smartest men of the force from outside districts will be coming, and these will be detailed oli: with some of the Gisborne men who are thoroughly conversant with the district. Already a number of men who have been near the scene of the crime have been called on to explain their movements, and it will be a difficult thing for the # murderer to get away from the district. , The motive for the crime was not robbery. Inspector Hutton said that a statement that the 10s which the child had received' from the storekeeper at Makaraka had been missing after the crime, was .unfounded. The money was found by the police, together with the letters and the other goods which had been in her possession. There was not.the slightest doubt, added Inspector HuttpH, that the only motive, for the murder was outrage.

One of tho principal points on which the police are concentrating attention to-day is the,piecing together of the various facts regarding what happened from the time the girl left home until eho arrived at the store. The period after she lefJ tho store is now covered practically down to the time she entered the lane, and it is hoped that the earlier space of timo which elapsed between the time she left home ana tho time sho reached the store' will be Bridged. The inquest opened before the Coroner, Mr, E. C. Lewey, S.M., this morning.. Patrick, Stephen Leo Murray, labourer, residing at Taruheru, ,said that the deceased' child was his daughter, and was 11 last August. Ho had last seen her alive on Monday morning about a quarter to seven. She had always been a fine, healthy child. He returned home about 7.45 on Monday evening when he-found that, all the family except the ,deeease3 were there. He was • told that "the deceased ■had gone to Makaraka,'for a message. He finished tea about half past eight and his wife went to lboltfor the child. She returned saying, that there was. no sigh of, her.' The girl did not return tnat night, and he had hot worried because he thought she had stayed at jMrs 'Green's, where 'sEe had -often previously ,6tayed. inquest -was then adjourned. The Child's Movements. . It is almost incredible that tho cfimo was committed within sight of a bright light in..jMCpV' Fleming's sitting T ropni. The lighted window could ■ be clearly seen by anyone passing down the lane, though partly obscured at the . tree •where the deed was done. It'is jiow pretty well established that the littlo girl must have been playing with other children along the road between the cemetery and Makaraka store; She was seen and passed by several itesidentg on the road that evening. . 'At the store, Mr Houghton spoke to, her about being out so late. . She did not appear,'however, to bo in the least afraid. ■ ' ''

As stated yesterday, Mr Sutherland, who resides near the cemetery, and within view'of the lane leading down to the river, saw the child accosted by a man whoin; he took 'to be her father, and. yet, singular; to say, it now transpires that a largo motor . lorry with powerful lights passed the child just aKsh.e was about to turn into the. gato Way of the lane. The driver states that there was no sign of any man with her at the time. . His: attention was drawn-.to the child by his own daughter, who wag riding with him ia the -lorry, and suggested giving the girl a ride. The inf cfence is that the man whom Sutherland saw with the girl dodged into the high fennel near by when he saw the lights of tho lorry approaching./ -

It has also been stated that a resident on the Gisborne side of the cemetery saw some manNvalking on the road about 8 o'clock. So far, however, tho poliefe have no clue as to the man'B identity, or that of - the murderer. The swagger previously mentioned has explained his movements, and is not under suspicion.