Obituary MR J. BICKERDIKE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29193, 2 May 1960, Page 12

Obituary MR J. BICKERDIKE

Inspector James Eickerdike, one of New Zealand’s best-known police officers, died in Christchurch on Friday. He investigated some of the country’s most famous murder cases. Bom in England, he came to New Zealand in 1911 and joined the police in Christchurch where he was later a police prosecutor in the Magistrate’s Court for many years.

Inspector Bickerdike served In a number of towns during his career with the police. He was stationed in Auckland, Napier. Wellington, Palmerston North and finally at Nelson, where he retired with the rank of inspector.

As a member of the Criminal Investigation Branch Inspector Bickerdike took a leading part in the Patience murder case. Bulldozers working on the beach near Claverley uncovered a woman’s body. Her husband was subsequently found guilty of murder.

During the early twenties Inspector Bickerdike investigated the murder of a constable named Dorgan in Timaru, who was shot during the night It appeared that he had arrested someone in the backyard of a shop and was shot in the head and chest The person who was responsible was not brought to trial as he was an escaned mental patient Inspector Bickerdike was one of the nolicemen engaged on the Elsie Walker case. Memories of this case were revived when a man named Bayly was tried and subsequently hanged in another p ase which is one of the most famous in New Zealand legal history.

Among those who investigated the death of a girl named Gwen Scarfe. whos° body was found in the scrub at Burwood, was Inspector Bickerdike. A man was arrested but there was no conviction.

Inspector Bickerdike was regarded as a very fair policeman. said a former superintendent in Christchurch (Mr A. Cameron). TJh> funeral will be held this after ;oon.