THREE MEN-NOT TWO

Evening Star, Issue 22593, 10 March 1937, Page 8

THREE MEN-NOT TWO

VICTIMS Of HENLEY FIRE THIRD REMAINS IN DEBRIS PATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION DISCLOSURE Three men—not two, as at first presumed— perished in the fire in the old house by the Taieri River at Henley on Saturday night. This extraordinary revelation in the Henley fire mystery, the identity of only one of the victims having yet been proved, was made at a pathological examination of the remains yesterday afternoon, after the inquest on two bodies had been opened. When the fire burned itself out in the early hours of Sunday morning, two piles of ashes and remnants of bones were found in the debris of the front room on the bottom floor of the onght-roomed two-storied old dwelling. The first remains were recovered inside the room, at a spot where the first farmer to arrive at the blazing building saw a body in tho flames. The other remains were found just inside the door, 4ft away from the other body. When the fire was raging, three or four Henley settlers saw two bodies in the flames, while two or three men have since stated that they saw three bodies. Despite the wide circulation of the description of the elderly man who was seen going towards the house at about 5.30 p.m., in company with James Reid, whose identity is clearly established, the police are no nearer the solution of tho mystery of the identity of the man who met his death with his mate. Who was the third man burned to death, in the house? When did he reach the house? Where did he come from? Was he known to Reid and his companions? These are questions which the police are anxiou.s to have answered. That a third man was incinerated in the fierce blaze is positively established, as after the inquest had been opened at Henley yesterday, an examination of the two piles of remains was made by Dr R. M‘Alisher Wylie, of Outrani, Constable Southgate being present. The first set of bones were proved to be the remains of one adult, but the bones collected from the debris near the door leading to the passageway were found to be those of two adults. DOCTOR’S DEFINITE OPINION. The anatomical evidence that two men perished when close together at the doorway is very strong, Dr Wylie stating to-day that the examination left no doubt that three men had met their deaths in the fire. “ The remains are those of three adults, but whether they were male or female it is not possible to say,” said Dr Wylie to a ‘ Star ’ reporter. The only means by which the identity of the third man can be traced—and then the identification will be presumption until every avenue of possible existence is exhausted —are the details of description of a stranger to the district who was given a lift in a motor car for half a mile towards Otokia on Saturday afternoon by a young man residing on the Taieri. The stranger was walking towards the highway from West Taieri when the young man gave him a ride and he asked if there were any empty houses at Henley. The young settler told him that there were two or three, but he did not direct him to any. It is believed that this man was the third victim of tho fire. He was about sft Gin or sft Tin in height, about 50 years of age. He was dressed in a grey suit and was wearing a soft felt hat. His description in some details tallies with that of the man actually seen in Reid’s company at Henley and crossing the paddock towards the unoccupied house. The man also had a fair moustache. MOVEMENTS OF TWO MEN. Extensive inquiries have been made in the Henley district, but none of the settlers remembers seeing the third man in tho township or going towards the old homestead. The movements of Reid and his companion on the day of the fatality before reaching Henley have not been traced, although, through them, the identification of Reid’s companion may he made. It is now definitely thought that they came into Henley from the direction of the Maungatuas. The man with Reid is described as being between 50 and 60 years of age, between sft Gin and sft Bin in height, stoutly built and fair-complexioned, with a heavy, light-coloured moustache. Ho was wearing also a light grey suit in fairly good condition.