STOREKEEPER'S DEATH

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 10

STOREKEEPER'S DEATH

INVESTIGATIONS BY POLICE THE ARUNDEL MYSTERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS INDICATED Important developments, about the; nature of which the police are reticent, took place last evening in the search for the assailant of William Gaby, the 73-year-old storekeeper of Arundel, who was struck down and killed at his dwelling on Friday night. Police officials said, in v:ply to questions last evening, that to make any further statement at this stage would seriously prejudice a successful issue to the matter, but they admitted that] the developments which have taken place have major bearing on the case. { It is understood that Detective-bei-geant E. Thomas and Detective N. Kempt, who have been at Arundel since the crime was discovered, came to Christchurch last evening from Geraldine. Constable D. Callanan, of Geraldine, who was the first to be called to the scene, also came to, Christchurch lost evening and it is understood that he brought with him Mr A. G. Bryant, a relative of Gaby. An inquest was opened at Timaru yesterday morning and adjourned sine die after evidence of identification had been given. The post-mortem examination being conducted at Timaru by Dr. E. Thomson, assistant pathologist at the Chriachurch Hospital, has not yet been concluded, but ft was announced ye~torday that it had revealed that the skjll was not fractured. , .. . The police inquiries have shown tnat very few strangers have been noticed in the district recently, and this has saved them a good deal of tedious work. A search for the weapon was continued intensively yesterday, but as yet no indication can be given of its exact nature. It is understood that the police consider that the weapon will not necessarily be bloodstained as the wound was not one which would bleed freely. Every possible clue is being followed up by the police and inquiries have extended as for as Christchurch and Dunedin. The movements of travellers are being investigated and a careful search is bein'4 made, embracing everyone who is known to have called at the store on Friday or Friday night. A number of police, including De-tective-Sergeant J. Bickerdike, and Detectives A. A. Herron and P. Burns, left Christchurch for Geraldine yesterday with Superintendent A. Cameron, who has taken charge of the investigations and is making his herdquarters there. Inspector T. Shanahan. Senior-Sergeant D. J. He.. . and two constables from Timaru are also assisting. Superintendent Cameron was a resident of the Geraldine district for seme years- before he joined the police force. Constable J. B. Kearton, a photographic and fingerprint expert, and other constables from Christchurch are also helping in the investigations. A continua} guard is being kept at the store by the police. The funeral of the victim will take place to-day at the Arundel cemetery. _______________