FIVE MEN SHOT

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1941, Page 5

FIVE MEN SHOT

WESTLAND POLICE TRAGEDY SERGEANT AND CONSTABLES DEAD Two Victims in Grave State armed search for KOITERANGI FARMER. A Sergeant and two Policemen lost their lives at Koiterangi yesterday as the nesult of gunshot wounds, and another policeman and a civilian were seriously 'injured in what is probably the worst tragedy of kind to occur in the Dominion. The names of the deceased are.— SERGEANT WILLIAM COOPER, 43, of Hokitika. CONSTABLE FREDERICK WILLIAM JORDAN,’ 26, single, of Hokitika, whose relatives resin? in Auckland. «A,. nD cii CONSTABLE PERCY CAMPBELL TULLOCH, 35, single, of Hokitika, whose relatives reside in Timaru. The injured are:— CONSTABLE EDWARD MARK BEST, 42, married, of Kanieri, severe internal injuries, condition mrTeorge sackville Ridley, 54, married, of Pine Avenue, Cashmere, Christchurch, with three shot wounds in the left hip, and shock; condition serious. Following the tragedy, it was discovered that Stanley Graham, aged 40 years, married with two children at whose farm house on the Koiterangi Road the tragedy occurred, was missing, and a search for him will be commenced at daylight to-day. Mr, Ridley, who is the Canterbury Education Board’s Agricultural Instructor. was engaged at the Koiterangi School almost immediately onnosite the residence of Graham, working in company with Mr. Ihomas Hornsbv. the West Coast foreman of the Board. The tragedy was nm- , ceded bv a visit bv Constable Best m the morning, follow’ng a report telephoned to him Mr. Ridlev to the effect, that a disturbance had taken place at Koiterangi HOSTILE RECEPTION. . When Constable Best went to Koiterangi to interview Graham, he met with a hostile reception, and returned to Hokitika to ask Sergeant Cooper for assistance. The Sergeant, with Constables Tulloch and Jordan. r>roceedoH bv car to Koiterangi with Constable Best, arriving there at about 2.30 n.m.. What happened on f.he’r arrival is not clear, but it is believed that Constable Best entered +he house with the other Constables, whilst Sergeant Cooper _ followed them. The bodv of Sergeant Cooper was found on the footnath leading to the 'house, is about 20 vards the road wav. Inside the door, with his feet ly’ne towards the fron+ of the bouse was Constable Best, whilst Constables Jordan and Tulloch were lyme m ’he nassage with their foot towards the door Mr. Ridley, who annarentlv came to the assistance or Sergeant Cooper, was found outside of the 'house.' At the t ; me of the occurrence, all of the nolicemen'concerned were in plain clothes, and were unarmed. - FIRST NEWS Constable Best and Mr Ridlev were removed to the Westland Hospital about 5 n.m. The first news of the tragedv reaching Hokitika was in a telephone message from the Postmistress at Koiterangi requesting that a doctor be sent out immediately Dr B L. Wilson Medical Superintendent of the Westland Hospital, proceeded to the scene bv car, and was followed bv the ambulance, in which the Matron (Miss Ral P s n^ ) travelled. On arrival, they discovered that the Sergeant and two Constables were dead, whilst Constabl Best and Mr. Ridlev to he both in a serious condition, although they both were conscious on admission to hospital. THE FATAL WOUNDS. Sergeant Cooper’s injuries were extensive, consisting of several gunshot wounds in the regions of the chest, whilst Constables Tulloch and Jordan were, apparently killed witn single shots through the chests All of the bod’es were covered m bloodstain-. They were conveyed ; .bv ambulance to the Hokitika Hosoital morgue late last night. MORE POLICE ARRIVE. Soon after receiving the message from Hokitika. Inspector Calwell and other members of the Force left Grevmouth reaching Koiterangi shortly after 6.30 n.m. It was raminc at the time, and darkness was falling, so that any chance of commencing' a search for the missing man had to be abandoned for the night TAKEN TO THE BUSH. Graham, it is understood, rushed into the thick bush about half a mile behind his residence. The members of the Force spent the night in the vicinitv. and will commence an armed search at daylight to-day. Members of the Koiteranci Home Guard have offered_ their services for the search to-dav. and these will probably be availed of. In addition, reinforcements of the Police Force are to arrive eaffv this morning bv radcar from Christchurch.- It was still raining in Hokitika last night, and the prospects of fine weather for the search did not appear to be bright, graham CRACK &HOT Graham, who is a native of Longford has spent the whole of ms life m the district, where he has been noted as a crack rifle shot, athlete and boxer. His farm is regarded as one of the best in. the district, and his herd of pedigree cattle have won many prizes. His property is fairly extensive in size, the cleared poison being used for dairy purposes. CONDITION OF INJURED A report from the Westland Hospital late last night stated that the condition of .Constable Best and Mr. R’dley remained grave. Botn were derated on last ni e M. and several blood transfusions werp given «1. work proved arduous fol the staL of the Westland Hospital and additional nurses were called to auty, working throughout the night In an effort to alleviate the sufferings o. the injured men. PUBLIC ANXIETY. The news of the . tragedy spread rapidly through Hokitika, and a large gathering of people waited for some hours outside the Police Stat.on in Weld Street for further news. Sergeant Cooper, although only a week in Hokitika, had already proved himself a popular officer with the people, whilst Constables Jordan and ft--loch were well known as efficient

members of the Police Force in the town. 13oth. were keen sportsmen, Constable Jordan having represented Westland and,the West Coast in Rugby football for several seasons, while an injury put an end to his participation in the sport. Since then he had become a . keen devotee or bowls and Rolf, in which Constable Tulloch also snared.

TRAGEDY RECALLED. The deaths of the three members of the Police Force in such tragic circumstances, recalls what has hitherto been the most serious tragedy which has befallen members of the Force. Over 30 years ago, m the central part of the Wellington Province a man named Powelka escaped from prison and armed himself. In a oolice hunt, he was surrounded, but in the course of the struggle which ensued^ Sergeant Quirk and a constable were mortally wounded.

POLICE SEARCH News of the tragedy reached Greymouth about 5 p.m and shortly afterwards Inspector D. L. Calwell, officer in charge of the district, left bycar for the scene, accompanied by Senior Sergeant G. F. Bonisch, Detective Sergeants H. E. Knight and C. H. Davis and Constables J. J. J'ohnso’n and R. H. Dixon, of Greymouth. The tragedy practically wiped out the police force in Hokitika, Constable S. I. Wallace, who was left by Sergeant Cooper in charge of the station, being the only member not concerned. Another member of the Hokitika force, Constable D. Stuart is at present relieving at Kumara m the absence of Constable G. Studholme

CAREERS OF DECEASED Sergeant William Cooper was until last Tuesday attached to the Greymeuth Police Station, being transferred to Hokitika to replace Sergeant. W P. Gilligan on the latter’s transfer to Waimate. Sergeant Cooper joined the Police Force in March. 1920, being stationed first tat Invercargill. Later he was transferred to Orepuki and Waikaia, before being promoted to Sergeant and transferred to Dunedin in February, 1926. He remained in Dunedin until nine months ago when he was transferred to Greymouth, leaving last Tuesda-- as stated. During his term in Greymoutn he was an extremely popular member of the Force. Sergeant Cooper was a married man with one son. at present in Christchurch. Constable Frederick William Jordan, who was aged 26 years, joined the the Police Force in 1937, and for the past three years had been stationed in Hokitika. He was a single man. r ~ , Constable Percy Campbell Tulloch, had served in the Police Force since March, 1926. He was formerly stationed in Dunedin and came from Auckland to Bruce Bay where he was stationed for a period about five years ago He had been in Hokitika for the past four years. Constable Tulloch was a single man. INJURED POLICEMAN

Constable Edward Mark Best has been stationed in Kanieri for the past five years, and has been on the West Coast for about 15 years, previously being stationed at Wataroa and Hokitika. He is married and has a family of three children. The inquests will probably he opened before the Coroner (Mr. A. E. Benjamin, J.P.),'at Hokitika todav for formal evidence. No information as to the date or place of the burial of" the vicitims was available last night.