AUCKLAND MYSTERY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1920, Page 8

AUCKLAND MYSTERY

THE PONSONBY MURDER

~ ARTICLES FOUND BY POLICE

MONEY, REVOLVERS, AND AMMUNITION.

(Si- TELEGRAFH.--PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

'AUCKLAND, This Day.

As a result of investigations in connection with the murder and robbery at Ponsonby, the police found in a gully in the" vicinity of Howe-street, among a dense growth of black-berries, three largo calibre revolvers, a large quantity of ammunition, a burglar's jemmy, about £25 in money, and other articles, including Mr. Braithwaite's private.keys to his office and of the strongroom at the Poiv sonby Post Offieo; aiso th» key of the front door of his residence, a cancelled potal note, known to be pavtproceeds of the robbery, and a £5 note. - Only one £5 note was stolen from the Post Office. The articles were contained in three canvas bags, two of them such a 5 arc com^ monly used in .banks for holding > coin. The third bag is believed to be portion of the criminal's outfit, known as a sandbag. . ' ; The detectives also have in their possession a handbag that belonged to Mr. Braithwaite, and which is supposed- to have b&en taken by the murderer,'when' leaving his victim's residence. The bag, apparently, was found to contain nothing of- value, and. was thrown over a fence in the vicinity of Mr. Braithwaite's house. :

■' As the result of exhaustive investigations it is now believed that' Mr. Braithwaite was first attacked when, standing in the kitchen ' facing the mantelpiece, With his back to the door, which, was al-" most. invariably kept, openl when • eitliei Mr. or Jlrs Braithwaite was at home. On the evening of the crime '.MiV ' Brait'/i--waits evidently had been "in ' the house a few minutes before he was disturbed, and had deposited his hat, stick, and back where theywere usually kept. Ho wound up the clock on the kitchen matelpiece, and it; is surmised that he had finished with the clock when a'sjiot, was fired at his back, -which missed him arid struck'the mantelpiece. It is believed he turned and faced the back door, and received the two shots that killed him. The theory that'the first shot missed the victim is supported by;the statement of a person in an- adjoining house who says a cry was heard.after,the first shot was fired; . •

The presence of the key-of Mr Braith■waite's residence among! the articles re-, covered by the Detectives oh Saturday is accounted,for by. the fact that Hr.Braithwaite always earned "the key of the front door.; This, evidently, was taken from his pockets together ■ with; thei Post, Office-keys..- {*. ■-.- „,.,-;,.., ? r ■ -,-.