SYDNEY MURDER VICTIM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 152, 14 June 1935, Page 7

SYDNEY MURDER VICTIM

Member of N.Z. Family BOATBUILDERS AT AUCKLAND By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 13. The victim of Sydney’s latest murder mystery, Mr Reginald Holmes, who was found shot in his motor car early on Wednesday morning, is a member of one of the pioneer boat-building families of Devonport, Auckland. An aunt, Mrs J. W. Atkin, lives at Queen’s Parade,. Devonport, in the house in which Mr Holmes’s father was born. The grandfather of the murdered man, Mr William Holmes, senr., was a member of the boat-building firm of Holmes Brothers, which was interested in the first ferry service across the harbour and which in 1864 built the vessel Waitemata, the first steamer to be constructed at Devonport. Mrs Atkin said that Mr William Holmes, junr., father of Mr Reginald Holmes, was also a boat-builder in Auckland, but 47 years ago he took up residence in Sydney and founded a large business there. On his death in 1922 the business passed to his two sons, Reginald and Leslie Holmes, but for some years past the former had carried on alone. Mr Reginald Holmes was recognised as one of the leading boat-builders in Sydney. Mrs Atkin continued that ho was a prosperous business man, with headquarters at McMahon’s Point, and was devoted to his work. His only hobby was speed-boat racing, and he owned several extremely fast boats, which were always ready for any emergency. His interest in racing had taken him to many parts of Australia, and he had raced successfully at Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as in Sydney, He held some important trophies, including one awarded for three succea sive wins. Several narrow escapes from drowning after mishaps had not dimmed his enthusiasm. Although a member of an old Auckland family, Mr Holmes had visited the Dominion only once, in March of last year. Mrs Atkin said that later in the year, however, she and her husband made a trip to Sydney, and in October they spent a considerable time with Mr Holmes and his family. “Wo did hundreds of miles in the car in which ho was murdered when we were there last October,” Mrs Atkin added. “We knew nothing of the tragedy until we read of it in the newspapers, and we have had no additional information from relatives in Sydney. News of the murder came as a terrible shock.” Mr Holmes is survived by his widow and two young sons. NO ARREST MADE YET Other Witnesses Guarded SYDNEY, June 13. Detectives are not much nearer the arrest of Mr Reginald Holmes’s murderer, and an examination of the fingerprints found on the motor car door afford no clue to the identity of the wanted man. The police are guarding the home of relatives of the murdered man and other witnesses at the James Smith inquiry are being afforded police protection.