DYING IN CAR

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 18, 16 October 1933, Page 11

DYING IN CAR

Auckland Taxi-driver MILKMAN’S DISCOVERY Fatal Wound on Head UNKNOWN ASSAILANT By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, October 15. Dying from a blow on the head delivered by an unknown assailant, a taxicab driver was found at the wheel of his cab by a milkman who was delivering milk in Mount KoskiU shortly before six o’clock this morning. There was no sign of a struggle nor of the implement with which the blow was struck. The injured man was rushed to the Auckland Hospital, but died as he was being admitted. The victim was James Blair, aged 53, of Newton, a married man with three children and' employed by Chess Taxi Cabs, being an auxiliary driver engaged on night duty. When the discovery was made the taxi was standing in King’s Road off Dominion Road and near the corner of Parua Street, formerly known as Lovers’ Lane. The vehicle was standing in a normal position at the left side of the road, which has houses upon each side, and at fairly close intervals, for its entire length. It is thought that the attack was made about two hours before the discovery, as the taxi was wet with dew as though it had been standing for some time. The engine had stopped but the taxi meter was still ticking. It registered 18/-. Motive Not Ascertained. The motive for the crime has not yet been ascertained with any degree of definiteness. Blair had some money in his possession when found, but it is not known whether he had a further sum which his assailant took. His entry book showed 37/- worth of work done, but that is not held to indicate he had 37/- in cash on his person when the attack took place. It is believed the assailant was a "fare” who hailed Blair in the street. It is a matter of routine for taxi drivers to ring their central office upon returning to the stand after completing a job, and Blair rang his office at about 3.40 this morning, having then returned to the stand in Upper Queen Street. From that time onward nothing more was heard of him until he was found. No one in the street where ttse taxi was found had any idea of the tragic happenings until they were awakened by the police, who arrived in force and Immediately commenced an intensive investigation, including a search for a weapon. No arrest has been made and no weapon found. Running Footsteps Heard. Although, residents in the vicinity stated they heard nothing, Mr. J. Betts, who lives on the other side of the road and slightly beyond the immediate scene, recalled that he had heard running footsteps during the early morning. He said his wife awakened him and told him to listen. "It was some time between midnight and 4 o’clock," said Mr. Betts. “Footsteps were definitely running and they were those of only one person. They were those of a man, I could swear. They were running toward Dominion Road and whoever it was was running on the footpath past my house.” The milkman who made the discovery was Mr. Hedley Davis, of Mount Roskill. He telephoned the police and a doctor. From the natural position in which the car had pulled up it is thought it was in the act of being stopped or had just stopped as Blair was struck. The fact that the wound was in the back of Blair’s head indicates that he did not have time even to turn round. In the opinion of Mrs. Blair, wife of the murdered man, her husband’s assailant was probably someone who had not the money with which to pay his fare and sought to evade his responsibility by attacking the driver and making off.