CHINESE FOUND DEAD

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26120, 24 May 1950, Page 9

CHINESE FOUND DEAD

WOUNDED ABOUT HEAD

POLICE INVESTIGATING AT AUCKLAND (Neu Zealand Press Association) , AUCKLAND, May 23. The body of a Chinese market gardener was found by two Maori girls in the kitchenette of his home in Baker street, off Nelson street, Auck- 1 land, about 10.30 this morning. He was Lee Hoy * Chong, aged 46. He lived alone in a two-storeyed hbuse of eight rooms. The head bore wounds as though it had been battered. It seemed that Mr Lee had been attacked at the foot of the stairs leading to the upper storey of the house. There was a trail of blood from the stairs to the kitchenette door, where the body, fully clothed, was found lying on its face. The right arm was behind the back and the left hand beneath the -head, which was resting in a pool of blood. There was a large wound on top of the temple. Near the body were slippers which appeared to have been shed during a struggle. An attempt had apparently been made to wipe up the blood from the floor with a mop which was near the body. The footprints of a man wearing size nine shoes were found in the blood in the kitchenette. There were also traces of blood on footprints near a corrugated iron fence at the rear of the section. The back door was wide open. t The police believe -that a man left the’ section by climbing the fence into vacant land adjoining a wood yard. The downstairs portion of the house is well furnished, but the upper four rooms are empty. No trace has been found of a weapon. Mr Lee is .believed to have died about 12 hours before his body was found. He was married but his wife and 18-year-old daughter are living in China. Formerly a market gardener at Te Papapa, he had been living at Baker street since his retirement about six years ago. Finding of Body The girls who found the body were Mary Tehira and Polly Grace, who live in Hobson street. The former said she had been staying at the house until four weeks ago. She occupied a room next to that of Mr Lee. “With Polly, I had to see him to-day on a business matter,” she said. “I knocked on the side door but got no answer. We waited a few minutes, then I pushed open the door and saw blood on the floor. We saw the body and so left and rang the police.” According to Mr Albert Duk. another Chinese. Mr Lee had a sum of money when he retired, but lately had been borrowing from his follow countrymen. Mr Duk said that Mr Lee was interested in gambling, particularly pakapoo. Mrs Bailey, a neighbour, saw Mr Lee return home at the usual time. 6.30 last evening, but did not know whether he went out again. Chief-Detective Alpin is directing a police investigation.