GRAVE DISTURBED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21634, 10 February 1945, Page 4

GRAVE DISTURBED

WOMAN BURIED IN 1893 CHRISTCHURCH GHOULS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 10. Whether the police have found inviolated the grave in the Linwood cemetery they are keeping strictly to themselves, but it is hinted that the Linwood sexton’s discovedy may have revealed a serious crime. When he discovered on Thursday morning that the grave ol a woman buried in 1893 had been disturbed the police were informed. As a result of the report sent in by the detectives detailed to the investigation. Chief Detective T. F. Holmes himself took charge.

Before reopening the grave the detectives made a close search of the surroundings. Everything that might offer a clue was carefully recorded and preserved in case the grave should hold some sinister secret for it seemed inconceivable that pure mischief had motivated the unknown digger. The detectives found that live soil had been disturbed to a considerable depth, but whatever more thoy have discovered is being kept for the time being a close secret.

“Our preliminary work was not wasted,” said a police officer. Two years ago another grave, also in a part, of the cemetery remote from the sexton’s cottage, was opened by some unknown person and filled in again. Detectives found, however, that the excavation had gone only to a death of about 2ft. No explanation of this mvsterious incident has ever been found.