MURDER MYSTERY

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1943, Page 4

MURDER MYSTERY

SMYTH SISTERS INQUEST AT WAIROA Pathologist’s Account DELAY IN~DISCOVERY OF CRIME. P.A. WAIROA, Jan. 19. The inquest was opened this morning on the bodies of Brigadier Annie Smyth and her sister, Rosamund Smyth, whose bodies were found in the Salvation Army hall on August 21, 1942 under suspicious circumstances. The District Coroner, Mr. V. I. Winter) presided, and proceedings were conducted by Chief Detective Young. Before proceeding with the hearing, Chief Detective Young stated that although the inquest was being held it did not mean that the case would be closed. Investigations would be carried on until the culprit was brought to justice. However, the police were now in a position to say when, where, and now the crime was committed. The first witness called was Phillip Patrick Lynch, Medical Practitioner and Consulting Pathologist, who described the injuries causing the death or the two women. Brigadier Smyth’s body was in the kitchen. There were extensive injuries to the left side of the head, from which, there had been profuse haemorrage. Rosamund Smyth’s body was found in a back bedroom. ’There were wounds on the head from which blood hiad run down, forming a pool on the floor. The clothing of both victims was disarranged, but neither woman naa been interfered with.

A post mortem examination of Brigadier Smyth’s body disclosed three ragged wounds in the region of the left temple, which could have been made with a blunt instrument. When the scalp was removed it was. found that the skull in this situation was badly shattered, this being associated with much laceration of the brain substance. There were no injuries about the face of hands, and nothing to indicate that deceased had made any attempt to protect herself. 'The post mortem examination of Rosamund Smyth’s body disclosed several wounds in the head which could have been caused by a poker and the presence of hairs and blood on a poker found strongly suggested that this had been used. On the crown of the head was a split in the scalp 2J inches long, with wide separation nt the edges, which had apparently been i. done by an axe discovered on the ' premises. Rosamund Smyth had been gagged, but this was not. tiea and could have had n 0 useful purpose. The appearance of the bodies indicated that the deaths had occureil two weeks previously. Dr. Lynch said he had formed the opinion'that the disarrangement oi the clothing was rather deliberate or methodical; that the picture was fabricated, as it were, either for rhe purpose of doing deliberate indignity to the- bodies of the deceased women, or of diverting attention from the motive of the crime, or the identity of the assailant. Horace Gilbert Martien, Exchange Clerk, gave evidence to the effect that he had noticed lights on in the building on several nights when he was'returning from duty. At 1 a.m. on Aug. 18, he had visited -the barracks for the purpose of borrowing a rug, but he received no response to his knocks. He went again the next night to meet a similar experience. On August 21, he was approached by a neighbour, who expressed concern over the non-appearance- of Brigadier Smyth and her sister. He still ma not take any action to make investigations. Replying t-j the Coroner, he saia, that he intended to inform the police next morning, but in the meantime the bodies were discovered. Mrs May Topham Hunn described how she visited the barracks on Sunday August 9, entering by the back door when she found the front aoor locked. She passed through the kitchen and went to the meeting room, where she spent an hour in prayer. She passed back through the passageway to gain the exit. She failed to see the body of the Brigadier in a chc'r in -the corner, despite the tact that evidence disclosed that the victim was then there . An eight-year-old girl, Donna Scott, stated that she and other children children were playing in <-..e vicinity of the hall on August 9, when she decided to enter the building by a back door. She did so, and was confronted by the body of the Brigadier lying dead in a chair. The reason why she did not inform any of her other playmates or her parents was that she was too frightened. Nevertheless, she went on playing with her pals, who were -throwing d : rt in an open window, she replying bv throwing pillows out at them, which were returned. She believed that the body in the chair was that of Rosamund Smyth. At the conclusion of the evidence, the Coroner returned a verdict that, the Smyths met their death at the hands of a person or persons unknown. He extended sympathy to the relatives. and (also congratulated the nolice on the manner in which they had handled -the case.