STRONG CLUES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 9, 11 July 1922, Page 7

STRONG CLUES

TO HORNSBY MURDERER

SOME SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS

.(PNIrSB PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYBIUUT.)

(.Received July il, U a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day.

The police have several strong clues by which they hope shortly to trace the murder, er of Mr. Kemmis. The information supplied to them includes a description of a man who "was hanging round the Hornsby Station for several days, and who boarded the train by which Mr. Kemmis travelled. Further information states that two men were seen to jump hurriedly from the Hornsby train just before it stopped at Waitara, and run down the embankment and disappear. Bank officials are of opinion 'that Mr. Kemmis was watched for a considerable time, as two weeks ago a man called at the bank after office hours and asked for some stamps, Btating that he had been Bent by the Post Office. The officials became suspicious, and communicated with the postmaster, who denied sending'anybody. SYDNEY, 10th July. The Government and the Savings Bank Commissioners have each ■ offered £250 reward for evidence which will lead to the conviction of Mr. Kemmis's murderer. The whole of the detective department has been engaged so far without result. Further' evidence appears to indicate that Mr. Kemmis's assailant acted precipitately. The indications are that it was intended to attack Mr. Kemmis on his way from the train to his home in a quiet street in Wahroonga. It has been ascertained that a motor-car was waiting there when the train arrived, and left' immediately. The supposition is that the assailant's instructions were to shadow Mr. Kemmis to WaKrbonga, but that, finding his victim alone in the train, he seized the opportunity to attack and secure the keys. He also took some five-pound notes. The waiting motor-car must have made quick time back to Hornsby. The police also acted quickly. The train reached. Wahroonga about 10.20 p.m., and the Hornsby police were\informed, and visited 'the bank at 10.40 p.m. Finding the door open, and expecting the robbers to be inside, the police rushed in, but the quarry ,had gone. The robbers, finding themselves baulked through having only one of the two keys necessary to open the strongroom, had not wasted any time in making their escape. '■■, Mr. Kemmis was a nephew of the late Canon Kemmis, and was prominent 'in church and philanthropic movements.

[Mr. F. 0. Kemmis, manager of the Savings Bank at Hornsby (20 miles north of Sydney), was violently assaulted in the train on his way home to Wahroonga, and, though able to speak when he was found, he died shortly afterwards. His assailant took the key of the bank safe, and an attempt was made to rob the bank. It failed because two keys were necessary to open the locks. ' Mr. Kemmis had a fine record in the war. He enlisted as a private, and won a commission in the field, being promoted to the rank of staff-captain on the headquarters of the • Fourth Australian Division (under Major-General SinclairMaglaggan), which was associated with the New Zealand Division at Messines, Villers-Bretonnsux, and other battlefields. He was well known, and held in the highest esteem by staff officers of the N.Z.E.F.; to whom the news of his tragic end came".as a great shock.] /