THE RUNANGA MURDER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 45, 16 November 1917, Page 6

THE RUNANGA MURDER

AN ARREST

MAN WITH A LOADED REVOLVER BIG SUM OF MONEY RECOVERED THE NOTES IDENTIFIED DETECTIVES' INTERESTING STORY By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, November 15. This evening, about 6.35, two Christchurch detectives arrested a mail who gave liis name as William Eggers Macmahon, and lie was immediately charged at the Police Court with committing the recent Kunanga murder and robbery. Detective Abbott, who made the arrest with Detective-Sergeant Connolly, made ihe following statement to a newspaper reporter, in which he gave details of the evonts which led up to Macmahou's arrest:— "To-day," he said, "a telegram came from the' Const containing some important information, and, acting on it, we lAide diligent search for a woman 111 Christchurch, who was supposed to be tho wife of Macmahon. It took us some time to locate her, but we eventually did so, anil shortly afterwards wo found out that a man 'answering to Macmahon s description had been seen in her company aC 1 p.m. to-day. We then searched the town, and carefully watclicd all the trains which left, especially the ono which left for the ferry boat.

DINING AT AN HOTEL ' "Wo oame back about 6 p.m. to tho Empire Hotel, and there was Macmahon having dinner with the woman. After the couple had finished their meal Macmahon left the hotol alone about 6.30 p.m., and Detective Connolly and I accosted him, and brought him to the detective ofiico, telling him wo had heard that he had como from the Coast, and tftfii we wanted him to account for his movements. . "Macmahon had a small brief-bag in his hand when we accosted him, and this he carried with him to tho detective otfice. On the way there he remarked that ho had been over to the (hast buying land. We asked him what ho had in tho hag, and he replied: Oh. just a few odds and ends,' but he seemed disinclined to let us open it; in fact,.he refused to. We told him that we wanted to 6ee what was in it.

A LOADED COLT REVOLVER. "Macmanon was sitting on a chair in the office with the bag on his knees'." He opened it slightly, and slid his hand in, and began fumbling in the bag. Wo were both watching him very closely, and suddenly Connolly crabbed Macmahon's hand, and pulled it out of the bag, as he had his suspicions that all was not right. It was just as well that he did so, for .Macmahon had a .33 automatic Colt fully loaded in his hand. Wc wrested the pistol away from him, and I handcuffed him.

LARGE SUM OF MONEY RECOVERED. "Besides the pistol there yjas ill tho bag a quantity of banknotes in bundles of twenty tied up in elastic bands, just as they are sent out from the bank. Altogether there would be about AM or 60 in the bag. "We placed jtfacmaho'i in the walclihouse and went hack to the Empire Hotel where his supposed wife was. We toot the woman to where she and Macmanon had boon staying, which was at a boardinghouse in Gloucester Street, just opposite the East Christchurch School, and here Connolly and I recovered a large number of banknotes, silver and copper coins. IThese were all in a steel trunk, ihe banknotes were wrapped up in paper, and there were a number ot brand new £& notes still in book form as they are before they are issued by the banks. These new notes were all ldenlihable, and we identified them as part of tho proceeds of the robbery. The money has hot been counted so far, but from all appearances it seems that it is practically intact."

SOMETHING ABOUT MACMAHON. In the course of further conversation a Press representative was told that besides the pistol and money in Macmahon s brief bag, there were about 100 loose cartridges for the pistol There is not the slightest reason to suppose that Macmahon is a returned soldier. Ho is believed to have been about Christchurch for a year or so, and ihacl (frequently travelled to the West Coast. From papers in his possession he may bo from America. Macmahon is a strongly-built man, apparently about 30 to 35 years of age. • ' When charged at the police station he said nothing. He was examined by the police doctor, but it is understood no marks were found upon him., v He will appear in the Magistrates Court this morning, when he will be rcniaßdod. ,_ STATEMENT BY SUPERINTENDENT

Speaking to a reporter, Superintendent Dwyer Saul that the past lew days had been fairly anxious ones for the whole police force in Canterbury, and particularly Christchurch, as this city was in the way of the natural outlet from he \"<W, and it was thought highly p obable that the man who »m»i« the crime might make Ins way out in h s Son. All routes from the Coast had been very carefully watched by .the SSL and <» the evenin o B of 'Ivr 6 Retectives-Detective-SergeantFahcy, of Tiinaru, and Detective O'Connor, of Christchurch-went over to the Coast to a ist in the search for the murderer. On Tuesday morning I sent six »pec«Mjselected constables over to the Coast to X the local police in making mvestigaS and searching for the murderer. TMs morning I received a telegram from Irspector Cruickshank, who » in charge rf the Coast district, which statetl at o man named Macmahon had left the Coast and that his movements w«r o a very suspicious character, this telegram was followed by a subsequent one firing details as to the time Macmahon left and how he left. On receipt of this T told off Detective-Sergeant Connolly and Detective Abbott to make special inquiries and search for traces of the suspect, which resulted in the arrest which has been made.

HOW THE POLICE GOT ON THE TRACK TIN OP FLOOR POLISH GIVES A. CLUE. Greymouth, November 15. The man Macmahon, arrested in Ohristchurch, was traced from hero by Detective Ward to Hokitika, where he lured a motor-ear to go to Otira on Monday He had been m Greymouth four months ago posing: as a travullinß agent for agricultural implements, but was absent until four days before the murder, when he left his hotel and disappeared, Raving ho *ns S°'»S Chr^ races. Ho returned again after the races, and was shadowed by the police till his arrest. A candle found ill jus room in the hotel stuck to a floor-polish tin, the lid of winch was found in the wharo near the scene of the murder, put the police on. the traclt.