SUICIDE OF SUSPECT

Evening Star, Issue 21510, 7 September 1933, Page 2

SUICIDE OF SUSPECT

CLOSE OF OWHANGO MURDER MYSTERY GRYLL'S BODY FOUND [Per United Press Association.] TAUMARUNUI, September G. The body of .John Grylls, a farm labourer, aged 26 years, single, was found at Owhango at 12.45 p.m. today by Detective J. Walsh, of Wanganui, iu the presence of Inspector Ward, of Wanganui. There was a bullet wound in the deceased’s forehead, apparently • self-inflicted. Sergeant G. Sivyer, of Taumarnmii, arid about fifteen other police were searching the bush in the vicinity at the time the body was found. The body was on the edge of a precipice in thick scrub and fern, with a rifle alongside it. It would appear that Grylls. shot himself the same day ns he disappeared (Sunday). The location of the body was near the Whakapapa River, about a quarter of a mile from the cowshed where Miss Rosoman was found murdered. Apparently Grylls went to the edge of the cliff, intending that his body should fall over and drop 250 ft, as he shot himself, but the body remained on the ledge. The spot is inaccessible, and it was only through Detective Walsh noticing that the fern had been disturbed in the vicinity that he came across the body, which might have remained hidden in the fern for some time.

Grylls, who was suspected of the murder. occupied the hut alongside the cowshed where Miss Rosoman’s body was found, and was not seen since Saturday night, when he attended a dance at which Miss Rosoman was present. The police have been searching night and day since Sunday in the hush, and all roads and bridges have been watched on the assumption that Grylls, who was experienced in the bust), was attempting to escape. The bodv was brought to Tanraarnmit this afternoon. Grylls was a prominent footballer locally, and was a vorv powerful man. Constable C. Chestnut, of Raetihi. who was searching in the hush for Grylls, had not returned when darkness came on to-night, and the police despatched a party this evening to search for him. [A shocking tragedy occurred about 8.30 on September 3 in the township of Owhango, fifteen miles south of Taumarunui, when the body of Miss Jean Rosoman, aged 23 years, was found at the rear of the milking shed with a bullet wound in the head and other injuries caused apparently by a pick handle. It appears that Miss Rosoman and Mr and Mrs D. Laing and a child, aged 10, had been milking, and returned from the shed to the house. After breakfast Miss Rosoman returned to the milking shed to clean the cans, and Mr Laing went out to the paddocks. Children playing on the road near the milking shed heard the rattling of tins in the cowshed, and went over to ascertain th.e cause. It was then that they found the young woman’s body. They then called their father and mother. The children state that they saw a man wearing a white shirt and trousers disappearing across the paddocks. The body . when found was lying in a crouched position at the rear of the separator room. The bead had been knocked about, and a bullet had apparently entered the head from the back. When the Tanmarunui police arrived they found a pick handle with hair on it near the body. A further investigation showed a bullet embedded in the wall near where the girl had been washing cans. The deceased was employed by the Laings, with whom she lived. Grylls was also employed by the Laings. The scene of the tragedy was in the main street of Owhango, not far from the railway station.]