MYSTERIOUS CRIME

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 25

MYSTERIOUS CRIME

SEARCH FOR A BODY EVIDENCE OF MURDER BLOOD AND A WEAPON (From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, September 10. One. of the greatest man-hunts, in the history of. New , South Wales is proceeding in the central west'of the State following the mysterious disappearance of William Henry Lavers, 50, share farmer and small storekeeper, twelve miles 'from Grenfell on the road to Forbes, last Saturday morning. It is certain, that Lavers was murdered. The police have no doubt that he was battered about the head with the heavy iron handle of a petrol pump/and that his murderers took him to a spot where they could hide the body. Police and hundreds of residents have since scoured the district and neighbouring towns without finding the ; body. Hundreds of volunteers, in motorcars, on horseback, and on foot, have worked over an immense area. Bloodstains and'other evidence show that Lavers was attacked as he was.serving customers with petrol from a p'ump at his store a few minutes after 6 a.m. on Saturday, Detectives believe that his body was taken out of the district in some kind of motor vehicle and hidden. 'lt is possible that it was thrown into the Lachlan River near Forbes.;.The search covers an area of several thousand square miles. The country is fairly open, with many wheat fields and scores of dams in which a body could be thrown. , It was at .first thought that Lavers was killed when an argument arose over payment for the petrol; which he had given a motorist or motorists. The police later formed the theory that his attacker might have known him. It seems certain that he was hit immediately after serving lour gallons of petrol, and was probably struck without warning. Detectives carefully examined blood, skin, and hair on the handle of the petrol pump, and blood near the foot of one of the pumps. They took careful plaster casts of tyre imprints, and also collected other evidence., THE SIGNS OF A CRIME. Lavers rose a little before 6'a.m. to feed his horses. He was fully dressed, except that ,he was wearing slippers. It is assumed that, before he could go back to the house to put on his boots, a motor vehicle pulled up outside the store and that he immediately served the customer with petrol. As a search afterwards showed that the key of the tank' was still in position, that the indicator of,the tank pointed to four gallons, but'that the tank was empty, the detectives believe that Lavers was struck down almost immediately after he had performed his task. It is supposed that Lavers received a blow on the head and that he fell unconscious against the foot of the pump, where more bloodstains were found. • So far no evidence has been found which would show the reason for such an attack. Lavers was a quiet, goodtempered man, who would not readily be involved in a brawl; but, although they have'not entirely rejected the theory of a dispute over payment, the police think there must have been some other factor which has not been explained.' They do not believe that any motorist, even a criminal travelling in a stolen car, was likely to attack and kill a man merely, to obtain four gallons of petrol. _ .-_■ Tyre tracks are playing an important part in the search for the car in which the body of Lavers was taken away. The car is believed to be an- old, slate-grey touring car of .unknown make, with ■ a loud engine. Sueh a car was seen on the Forbes , road shortly after the supposed time of the crime. Several residents of the district reported to the police that they had either heard or seen the:touring car as it was driven out of Grenfell towards Forbes. All agreed that it was driven fast. A search is being made for the car throughout the State, but the poor description of it is handiCa ?&Uce P b o eiie e ved that they would find Lavers's body in the Lachlan River 7 The river has been searched at likely points , within. 30 miles of LaversV roadside store, without success, but, as the river is swollen with rain the work is difficult. The police stiU'tSSkthat the body ******** and they are continuing the search at all other likely places . . The investigators of the crime are fighting a losing battle. Torrential ram his washed away car tracks on country roads which might have been o? great assistance. Unless pected clue is found, long and careful fnvestigation, followed by ? patient and minute analysis of a mass oi detail, will be necessary before furtner progress is made.