BODY FOUND IN SCRUB

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27055, 2 June 1953, Page 6

BODY FOUND IN SCRUB

Tinwald TaxiDriver

POLICE SEARCH AT MT. SOMERS

The body of James Alexander Henderson, * taxi-driver, of Tinwald, was found in undergrowth of gorse and broom in a plantation about one chain off the road at Mount Somers yesterday afternoon. Several severe stab wounds with a sharp instrument had been inflicted on his chest, arms and head. Mr Henderson’s taxi was earlier discovered abandoned with its front wheels in a water race near the intersection of the DarfieldArundcl highway and Hood street, about half a mile from the Mount Somers township, and close to the spot where the body was found.

A man-hunt concentrated on the Mount Somers district was begun by a large party of armed police yesterday, ana continued throughout the night. The search was for a man believed to be armed with a .303 rifle and carrying several rounds of ammunition.

Mr Henderson was aged 28, a married man with one child, and lived at McMurdo street. Tinwald. He had taken out his taxi licence only about six weeks ago. He received a telephone call shortly after midnight on Sunday, from a man who asked to be taken to Westerfield. Mr Henderson left his home, telling his wife that he expected to be back in about 45 minutes, but he did not return. Early yesterday morning his wife became concerned, and relatives informed the police. The car, a black sedan, was discovered by residents of Mount Somers with its front wheels in the water race facing into the broom and gorse. A taxi-driver’s cap and the keys of the car were in it. There were bloodstains in the front of the vehicle. Residents of Mount Somers reported that there were skid marks on the road and they had heard the sounds of a motor-car horn, and the engine revving in the early hours of the morning. The police at Ashburton were notified.

Discovery of Body Detective C. P. Burns, Christchurch, and Senior-Sergeant C. H. Reardon, who were attending the Ashburton races, and Constable I. Rose (Ashburton) left for the scene. In a search of the gorse and broom near the car, Detective Burns and Senior-Sergeant Reardon found the body, fully clothed. It had apparently been dragged about one chain from the car and no attempt had been made to conceal it Bloodstains were found on the track from the car to where the body was left The Superintendent of Police at Christchurch (Mr D. R. Sugrue) arrived on the scene during the afternoon and took control of the investigations, He was accompanied by Chief Detective McDonald Brown and other detectives, and by Dr. C. T. B. Pearson, a Christchurch pathologist, and Mr F. Alcorn. Government analyst at Christchurch, who made an examination on the spot Photographs were taken by Mr W. M. Ramage, police photographer. An inquest was then opened by the Ashburton coroner (Mr E. C. Bathurst), and adjourned after evidence of identification had been given by Constable Rose. The body was then taken to Christchurch for a post-mortem examination. The taxi was also taken to Christchurch.

Using the Ashburton Licensing Trust’s new hotel at Mount Somers as headquarters, about 15 .policemen in three motor-cars, two of which are equipped with radio communication, made an intensive search of the district, but without result up to midnight. The search will be continued today.

Superintendent Sugrue said last night that the police were anxious to obtain information about the person who engaged the taxi, and would like to communicate with anyone who saw the taxi in the vicinity of where it was found. They would also like information from anyone who was likely to have picked up a man in the early hours of yesterday morning.