AUCKLAND MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1933, Page 6

AUCKLAND MURDER

BAFFLING TASK FOR POLICE

THEFT WAS NOT THE MOTIVE

(Fer Frees Association, Copyright)

AUCKLAND. October 16

The police faced with -an-Y-ap-parently baffling task in tracing the murderer of Jame.s Hunter Blair, the taxi-driver who was found dying at the wheel of his cab 'by a milkman yesterday morning. It ihas been found that death was. due to two heavy blows by a heavy, blunt instrument which fractwved the skull. There is no apparent motive."Blair wa s ia quiet, trustworthy man, highly esteemed by his colleagues in business. ‘‘He was white all through, s aid a neighbour. He was not robbed, for £2 2s 9d was found in hi?, possession, although it is possible his assailant was frightened by the extent ~of. the injuries be inflicted, ahd made oif without looking for money. ...... A thorough-search for the-.instrument was made by the police, but this w,,afbs’olutely 'fruitless. The '-police are now depending upon information comling in from anyone who saw the taxi ■in the vicinity, after 3.3 D on Sunday morning.

None of the -residents nearby saw anything, .although they heard the milkman .galloping along the road to the police station aficr he had found Hie body.

An inquest on Blair was opened today, afnd adjourned sine die, after evidence of identification by the proprietor of the taxi, who described Blair as a steady, reliable man.