MURDER OF AGED CHEMIST.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20382, 31 October 1931, Page 15

MURDER OF AGED CHEMIST.

ATTACKED BY ROBBER IN SHOP. CRIME COMMITTED IN BUSY STREET. (MUSS ASSOCIATION T*UEi£»W ' AUCKLAND, October Si\ A shocking murder with robbery a* the motive occurred late this afternoon, when Arthur James Blomfield, eltemlst. aged 75, was attacked in his shop i* the Pacific Buildings, Welle #lcy streeT. during the busiest shopping hour c-f the week. His skull was battered wi:a an iron instrument, believed to be * hammer, and he died from his injuria at 11 o'clock to-nighr. After committing the deed Uloibfield's assailant stole £o or from the till and calmly walked ou; of th« shop, passing as he did so a customer who was waiting to be served. The principal clue possessed by tit« police is a description of the murderer supplied by this customer. The attack occurred at o p.m., during the time that Blomneld's two assistants, J. TV. "Wheeler, of Sentinel road, Ponsonby, and a boy. were out for tea. It is surmised that BlumfieW had retired to a small room at the reaof the shop when the robber entered, and that, hearing him at the till, Blomfield tackled him. lie was forced t« retire again to the room, where hi* assailant struck him about a dozea times on the head. As the murderer made his way oat of the shop he saw a customer sitting on a chair, and said to him. "Have yon been waiting long?" "About ar« minutes," replied the customer. ""Well.** said the murderer, "the manager Trill not be long." He then walked quietly out into the street. The customer describes him as a tall, thin man. Blomfield was found lying with kis head near the safe. A pane of glass ia the partition was cracked apparently ;a the struggle. The till was found «a the floor behind ' the shop coaster empty except for a few pennies. Mr Blomfield was the oldest chemist in New Zealand.