THE WHAREKURI TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 28 April 1925, Page 8

THE WHAREKURI TRAGEDY.

WARRANT ISSUED FOR HUDSON. 'man believed to be drowned (rtESS 1930CUTION TSU6*"t.} OAMARU, April 27. A warrant was issued by the Kurow Bench to-day charging Philip Richard Hudson, University student, with the murder of Olive Joan Rutherford. The search was continued to-day, but no trace of Hudson was found. It. is still believed that he has been drowned in the Waitaki river, though it is quite possible that ho swam the river, and got into the hill country ou the other side. As he was without food, lie could not survive for many days.

POLICE SEARCH UNREWARDED. ' HUDSON A UNIVERSITY STUDENT. (swciil to "ths miss.") OAMAEU, April 27. Tho search for Philip Hudson was continued to-day, but without result. In view of the recent developments, the settlers in Wharekuri are somewhat concerned, though it is still believed that Hudson was drowned in the 'Waitaki river. It is established that he was possessed of a Winchester rifle when he loft the sceno of the tragedy. Why he took this weapon if he intended drowning himself is matter for pure conjecture He may have swum the river and got into the hill country, or ho may have retraced his footsteps after finding the river difficult of negotiation. The blood-stains leading to the river-sido do not indicate excessive bleeding. Hudson, who was a student of Otago University, was studying as an analytical chemist. It is understood that ho drew £SO from the bank on tho day of his departure from Dunedin. No papers which could throw any light on the tragedy wero found 011 the body of the girl. She took a room in tho Leviathan Hotel at Dunodin on tho day of her departure, but did not occupy it.

WRAPPED IN MYSTERY. NO THEORY TO EXPLAIN TRAGEDY. (SPECIAL TO "TM PBMS.") DUNEDIN, April 27. Tho Kuiow mystery is still unexplained, telegraphs the " Star's" Oaniuru correspondent. The death of Miss Eutherford occurred at 9 p.m. on Saturday, without her regaining consciousness, except to murmur "Good night" to her mother. The body was brought to Oamaru, and a post-mortem examination held in the evening showed that a bullet had entered the top of her head on the left side, emerging near tho xight ear. The brain was badly lacerated, and it is remarkable • that sho lived so long. Search parties and dragging operations havo yiolded no sign of Hudson, and it is generally believed that he is in the river, but it is quite possible he is in the back-country, where he might remain a long time if "assisted. Holes apparently caused by bullets appear in the girl's and Hudson's hats, which were found near the injured girl. It is extremely unlikely that the perforation in Hudson's hat was self-inflicted while he was wearing it, since it is right on top.

A largo force of police -will be oil tho river on Wednesday and Thursday, ■when it is expected that the body, if there, will rise. Meantime the search is continuing. No theory will explain all the details It is extremely doubtful if Hudson was in tho car when it went over. Probably the girl was shot afterwards. Thore were no bloodstains in the car. Two cartridgo cases wore found near tho girl, and the police know that Hudson took a Winchester ,22 automatic away in tho car from Dunedin. It was hoped to find tho riflo in the river, but there was no sign of it. It will probably remain a mystery for all time.