MURDER CHARGE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27471, 4 October 1954, Page 10

MURDER CHARGE

New Plymouth Man’s Death ARREST MADE IN WELLINGTON (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 3. A 22-year-old man was arrested on the Wellington waterfront today, ana will be charged in the Magistrate s Court tomorrow with the murder of a 67-year-old New Plymouth'pensioner, Robert Whale. After intensive work by detectives of the Wellington Criminal Investigation Branch, assisted by uniformed police, and led by Detective-Sergeant A. I. Knapp, the man was arrested by Detective-Sergeant W. J. Mason and Detective A. Hart at 2 p.m. today on the Taranaki street wharf. Mr Whale was found with extensive head injuries on the floor of his bach at 21 Awanui street, New Plymouth, shortly before 8 p.m. last Sunday. He was taken to the New Plymouth Hospital and operated on, but did not regain consciousness, and died at 3.45 p.m. on Monday. The arrest was the sequel to a week of inquiries by the police at New Plymouth. On Saturday the inquiries were extended beyond New Plymouth, and police stations south of the town were advised of the description of a suspect. “There are still inquiries to be completed at New Plymouth,” said Inspector F, N. Aplin, officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Branch at Auckland, who has been in charge of inquiries, at New Plymouth tonight.