DEAD BODY FOUND

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1945, Page 3

DEAD BODY FOUND

FRANKTON MURDER MYSTERY. AUCKLAND, May 10.

The dead body of a young man was found in circumstances pointing to murder in Frankton Junction at 7.15 a.m. to-day. The body was identified as that of Edward Herbert Clarke, aged 22, a trucker employed at the Wilton colliery, Glen Massey. Death had been caused by heavy blows to the head, which bad indented his forehead and smashed his skull. No trace of an instrument that might have caused the injuries has Deen discovered. . The body was found lying on the footpath about 70 yards back from the main Frankton- vVhatawhata raad oy a girl of 13, Jessie Goodall. The police were immediately informed, and Inspector O’Neil, Detective-Ser-geant Murray, Sergeant Bonnmgton, Detectives Hayes and Taylor and several constables were soon on the scene. They were joined later in the day by Detective-Sergeant Trethewey and Detective Harris, of Inquiries show that Clarke, who was well known in Hamilton, had been spending the victory celebrations holiday with his brother, Mr. G. N. Clarke, of Dunsdale Road, b'rankton. He left his brother s uome at G o’clock last night with the intention of attending a dance. Dunsdale Road is a sparsely settled thoroughfare on the west side of the Hamilton borough boundary. A post-mortem examination was conducted by Dr. A. G. Waddell. The body was warm when found, ana death had evidently occurred only a few hours before. A thorough investigation was conducted by the police to-day,- and many people were interviewed. An inquest was opened and adjourned.