TAXI MAN’S STORY

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1938, Page 7

TAXI MAN’S STORY

Suitcase and Sack

“VENISON” SAID HIS FARE

WELLINGTON, May 12.

On Monday last (according to “N.Z. Truth”) a startling development in regard to the suitcase murder mystery was a statement made by a taxi-driver, “Shorty” Wheeler, employed by the Grey Cab Company, who declared that on Friday, May 6, he answered a call for a taxi and picked up a fare in Hinau Road, carrying a man who had a suitcase and a sack to the Ferry Wharf so that his passenger could catch the “Tamahine.”

According to the taxi-driver’s story, a man telephoned the Grey Cab Company at about 1.14 p.m. on Friday, May 6, asking that a cab be sent to No. 13, Hinau Road. The taxi-driver searched for this'address in the street. There is no such number as 13 in Hinau Road.

However, he noticed a man further along the street waving his hands and beckoning to him. When he drew un, the driver got out and took hold of the suitcase and the sack to put them in the back of the car. He. remarked to his passenger on the weight of the baggage.

The man said that he had been shooting and he had some venison. He then asked to be driven to the Ferry Wharf to catch the “Tamahine.” The taxi-driver’s story is that the man appeared to be very excited.

Wheeler stated thaf he drove the car right on to the wharf and that he took the baggage out of the back of the car. As he did so, and saw the condition of the car. he exclaimed, “I’ll say it’s meat all right. Look at the mess my car is in.” Wheeler was referring to the blood in the car. The driver stated that he dumped the baggage at the foot of the gangway, ~nt into his car, and drove away. It is understood that the police have secured the mat. from the car showing the bloodstains, are investigating the driver’s story, and have started to search for his passenger to question him.