LAWYER INJURED BY EXPLOSION

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22142, 12 July 1937, Page 12

LAWYER INJURED BY EXPLOSION

DEFINITE EXPLANATION NOT ESTABLISHED REGARDED BY MR SINGER AS ATTEMPT ON LIFE (I'HBS3 ASSOCIATION TKI.ZOBAjI.> AUCKLAND, July 11. Although extensive investigations are being made by a large body of detectives and police no definite explanation has been established of the mysterious explosion which injured the well-known lawyer, Mr R. A. Singer, on Friday night. Pieces of tin found in the neighbourhood, however, are considered to be part of a canister that contained a bomb. . No trace lias been found of anything that would suggest a set bomb that would explode through contact, pesibly by the victim tripping on a string or wire; nor is it considered that a time-bomb was used. It is also indefinite what the bomb may have contained, although from matter discovered scattered about, it is considered that bluestone was among the ingrediAttention is now being directed to a suggestion that a bomb was thrown, although here the question arises about where a person could stand to hurl the m'ssile. Although Mr Singer's heme is approached by a narrow drive parallel to Grafton road, the house is well above the level of the street proper from which it would be most difficult to hurl a missile up the intervening bank and into the garden with any degree of accuracy. Little cover is offered on the left hand side of the path in which the exolosion occurred, while on the other side, nearer to shelter, is a boundary hedge practically the whole width of the section away. Furthermore, Mr Singer's taxi-driver reports that he saw no one in the neighbourhood.

Police Discoveries The police searched not only Mr Singer's garden but also the gardens of all the other houses close by. Ladders were also procured and the roofs of the adjoining houses were inspected. On top of a house two doors away _ a constable found a piece of tin, about six inches by four inches, with a crumpled portion of a nozzle, which are considered to be part of a canister. Many pieces of blue metal were also discovered. Some of this metal was blown 40 yards away and deposited on the roofs of houses.

Although uncomfortable from several wounds on his body, arms, and legs, Mr Singer is making an excellent recovery from the effects of the explos!on, and both yesterday and to-day he received many callers in h's bedroom.

With his right hand bandaged and a deep wound in the calf of his left leg, Mr Singer was interviewed in bed at his home yesterday morning. In spite of severe shock and wounds, he looked remarkably well, and is expected to make a good recovery. "It was a deliberate attempt at murder; it could not have been anything else," he said. Mr Singer added that it was his custom to return home by taxi every night at 6 o'clock, but last night he was a quarter of an hour (ate.

"When I saw a flash and heard the explosion on my right hand side, i thought there was something on my right ear. and rais-a my rignt to my lace," he said. "I called out to the tax.-criver to ask if aappened to the car. Then I realised (na t 1 was covered with oiood. It was simpiy streaming irom me. 1 sUugg.eo along the patnwuy to the iront uoor.' Mr Smger said that ne thougnt mat if he had not put his hand to his lace ne nugm have lost an eye or sustained otr.er serious injury to m face. As evidence of the terrific violence of tne explosion, portions o: ivir Singer's overcoat were blown aito tne property next door ana scattered over the garden. Mud was thrown on to the root of a flouse 70 yard* away. ivir Singer has not the slightest idea oi who mignt have been responsible i.or me ouuage.

in coi».p-a> wjJi the Cmei. DeLecUve tlie uovtiiiin-nt Analyst. Mr JK.. M. uriuixi, visn-eu uie *ceiie iu-aay ana inspected me pouce exrubits.