MURDER CHARGE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 15 September 1937, Page 10

MURDER CHARGE

MAN ARRESTED AND REMANDED STOREKEEPER’S DEATH AT ARUNDEL STATEMENT BY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE Arrested on Monday evening on another charge after his arrival m Christchurch on the express from Dunedin, Randall Reginald David Smith, a labourer, aged 26, of no fixed abode, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court early yesterday afternoon with the murder of William Gaby, at Arundel, on September 10. On the application of Chief-Detec-tive W. H. Dunlop, the Magistrate, Mr H. A. Young, remanded the accused to appear on September 21. Smith, who was not represented by counsel, offered no objection to the remand. It appears that three detectives took Smith into custody on Monday evening at the Christchurch railway station shortly after 5 o’clock. Later he was arrested on a charge of obtaining money and goods of a total value of £8 16s 7d from Gordon McHardie, at Seacliff, on September 13, by means of a valueless cheque purporting to be signed by David Bell, and drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at Geraldine. On this charge he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr E, C. Levvey, S.M., at 9 a.m. yesterday, an hour earlier than the usual time for the sitting of the Court. He was remanded until September 20 on the application of Detective-Sergeant T. E. Holmes. The accused man is fairly tall and thin, with long, dark brown hair brushed back over his head. When he stepped into the dock he was wearing a grey coat, grey flannel trousers, a collarless blue shirt, white sweater, and black patentleather shoes. Inquiries are being made by the police for the owner or driver of an Essex motor-car that passed Arundel about 9 p.m. on the day of the tragedy, Friday, September 10, and picked up a man three or four miles south of Arundel, and gave him a ride to Timaru. Statement by Superintendent In a statement to “The Press,” made at Geraldine yesterday, Superintendent A. Cameron, who has been in charge of the investigations, said that the police wished to thank those who came forward and gave information or who had in any way assisted. The general public helped greatly in the work of the police and had given particularly good service in the search for the missing weapon. The arrest of the man charged with the crime was the result of efficient co-ordination between the police at Christchurch, Timaru, and Dunedin, all of whom had assisted in following the thread. The movements of all strangers had been closely followed and checked involving a good deal of work. Quite a lot of matters would have to be investigated before tho police have their brief complete, and some little time might elapse before their case was ready for presentation to the Court. It was not known yet where the case would be heard, Superintendent Cameron added, but it would probably be heard in Timaru, although mat was really a matter for the Court to fix. He did not think that it would be heard in Geraldine as the courthouse there was in a serious state of disrepair. Superintendent Cameron remained at Geraldine last evening. Constable D. Callanan and Mr A. G. Bryant, a relative of Gaby, who came to Christchurch on Monday evening returned to Geraldine last evening and it was expected that DetectiveSergeants Thomas and J, Bickerdike would return there this morning. FUNERAL OF VICTIM LARGE ATTENDANCE AT ARUNDEL The funeral of Mr William Gaby took place yesterday afternoon to the Arundel Cemetery. The services at the graveside and at the house of Mrs G. H. Bryant, in Geraldine, were taken by the Rev. Canon J. F. Coursey of Geraldine. The pali-bearers were Messrs G. Wood (Orari), R Morrison (Geraldine), L. Wood (Mount Somers) and L Valk (Ngapara). There was a very large attendance at the funeral and more than 40 wreaths lent including ones from the Arundel School Committee, the ArundS S*™£ 0 s m X£ tQ ' and the ■