MURDER IN CAR

Evening Star, Issue 21543, 16 October 1933, Page 8

MURDER IN CAR

Ml DRIVER FOUND DYING NT WHEEL ASSAILANT THOUGHT TO 80 FARO ffIJWK FOOTSTEPS HEARD [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 15. Dying from a blow on the head delivered by an unknown assailant, a taxi cab driver was found at the wheel of his car by a milkman who was delivering milk in Mount Roskill shortly before 6 o’clock this morning. There was no sign of a struggle, or 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 fifty-three, of Newton, a married man with three children. He was employed by the Chess Taxi Cabs, being an auxiliary driver engaged on night duty. When tho 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 tho 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 ISs. The motive for the crime has not yet been ascertained with any degree of definiteness. Blair had some money in his possession when he was found, but it is not known whether bo had any further sum which his assailant may have taken. His entry book showed 37s worth of work done, but that is not held to indicate that he had 37s in cash on his person when the attack took place. It is believed that his 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 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 the 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 the weapon. No arrest has been made, and no weapon has been found. Although residents in the vicinity stated that they heard nothing, Mr J. Betts, who lives on the other side of the road and slightly beyond the immediate scene, recalled that lie 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. 11 The footsteps were definitely nmning, and they were those of only one person. They were those of a man, I could swear. They were running towards 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. Ho telephoned to the police and a doctor.

From the natural position in which the car had pulled up it is thought that it was in the act of being stopped or bad just stopped as Blair was struck. The fact that the wound was in the hack of Blair’s head indicates that ho 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. POUCH’S BAFFLING TASK HG CLUE TO MAN OR WEAPON AUCKLAND, October 16. The police are laced with an apparently baffling task in tracing the mur : derer of James Hunter Blair, the taxi driver who was found dying at the wheels of his cab by a milkman yesterday morning. It lias been found that death was due to two heavy blows by a heavy, blunt instrument, which fractured the skull. There is no apparent motive. Blair was a quiet, trustworthy man, highly esteemed by his colleagues in business. “ He was white all through,” said a neighbour. He was not robbed, for £22 2s 9d was found in his possession, although it is possible that his assailant, ' frightened by the extent of the injuries he had inflicted, made off without looking for money. A thorough search for the instrument was made by the police, but has proved absolutely fruitless. The police are now dependent upon information coming in from anyone who saw the taxi in the vicinity after 8.30 on Sunday morning. None of the residents nearby saw anything, although several heard" the milkman galloping along the road to the police station after lie had found the body. The inquest on Blair was opened today, and adjourned sine die, after evidence of identification bud been given by the proprietor of the taxi, who described Blair as a steady, reliable man.