TAXI-DRIVER MURDERED

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1933, Page 7

TAXI-DRIVER MURDERED

AN AUCKLAND MYSTERY UNKNOWN “FARE” SUSPECTED [PER press association.] AUCKLAND, October 15. Dying from a blow on the head delivered by an unknown assailant, a taxicab driver was found at the wheel of his cab by a milkman,-who was delivering milk in Mount Roskill shortly before six o’clock this morning. There was no sign of a struggle, nor of the implement with which the blow was struck. The injured man was rushed to Auckland Hospital, but died as he was being admitted. The victim was James Blair, aged 53, of Newton, married, with three children, and employed by the Chess Taxi Cabs, he being an auxiliary driver engaged on night duty. When the discovery was made, the taxi was standing in King’s Road, off Dominion Road, and near the corner of Parua Street, formerly . known as Lover’s 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 closh intervals for its entire .length. It is thought the attack was made about two hours before the discovery, as the taxi was wet with dew as thought it had been standing for some time. The engine had stopped, but the taxi meter was still ticking. It registered 18/-. The motive for the crime has; not yet been ascertained with any degree of definiteness. Blair had some money in his possession when .found, but it is not known whether he had a further sum which his assailant took. His entry book showed 37/worth of work done, but that is not held to indicate he had 37/- in cash on his person when the attack took place. It is believed the 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 up Upper Queen •Street. From that time onwards 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 a weapon. No arrest has been made, and no weapon found.

HARD TASK FOR POLICE AUCKLAND, October 16. The police are ; faced with an apparently baffling task in tracing the murderer of James Hunter. Blair, taxi driver. It has 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 £2/2/9 was found in his possession, although it is possible the assailant was frightened by the extent of the injuries he inflicted and made off without looking for money. , A thorough search for an instrument, made by the police was absolutely fruitless. The police are now depending upon information coming in from anyone who saw a taxi in the vicinity after three-thirty on Sunday morning. None of the residents nearby saw anything although several heard the milkman galloping along the road to the police station after he found the body. , . An inquest on Blair was opened todav, and was adjourned sine die, after evidence of identification by the proprietor of the taxi, who described Blair as a steady reliable man.

SHOT AT HIS HOME.

AUCKLANDER’S WIFE ARRESTED.

AUCKLAND, October 15.

Struck by a discharge from a shot e’un as he was walking from the passage into the kitchen of his home shortly after midday yesterday, George Little,’ aged 41, foreman at Pokeno. for the Public Works Department,, received severe lacerations to the right hand. Little had returned to the house from working outside about noon. Mr and Mrs Little have no children, but at the time of the incident Mrs Little’s nephew, aged 12 years, was in the kichen laying the table for lunch. Mrs Little had gone into the front bedroom, and after entering the house, her husband also passed through the kitchen to the front of the house. About half a minute later Mrs Little returned to the kitchen. A few seconds later, as Little was just coming through the I passage door into th’e kitchen, the report of a shot rang out. He received the full charge in the hand. The injured man ran out of the house to the nearest neighbour, who obtained medical aid.

‘The police later visited the house, and the door was opened by Mrs Little. After being questioned, Mrs Little, who is aged 49, was arrested and, brought to Auckland. She will be charged in the Police Court to-mor-row..

Mr and Mrs Little are both well known in the district.

INJURED WIFE REFUSES TO GIVE EVIDENCE AUCKLAND. October 14. Without, hearing further evidence, the Magistrate (Mr. Wyvern Wilson) to-day committed John Shaw Gordon, G 8 years of age, a bricklayer, for trial on a charge of doing bodily harm to his wife with intent to do grievous harm.

The Magistrate said that accused’s . wife objected to give any evidence. She was in delicate health and, if steps were taken to test the question whether she was a compellable witness, it might react on her health. If the prosecution thought it necessary* to have her evidence, they could subpoena her as a witness for the Supreme Court trial. If she remained obdurate, the matter could then be tested in the highest Court. Accused pleaded not guilty and re« served his defence.