ARUNDEL MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1937, Page 6

ARUNDEL MURDER

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR. iPer Press Association—Copyright). , TIMA HU, September 13. Under Superintendent A. , Camerop, of Christchurch, and Inspector 1. Shaiialian, of Timaru, over twelve detectives and police'continued inquiries today, into the, circumstances ot the (loath of William Gaby, the 73-year-old storekeeper, who was attacked on Friday night, and was left dead and bound in the kitchen of his store at Arundel.

The weapon used has not yet been found, although the police possess-a number of articles with which the fatal blow might have been struck.

Owing to the nature of the wound on Gaby’ s forehead, where the bone of the skull is close to the skin, little bleeding was likely to occur, thus, making iit difficult to ascertain whether any specific article • was used. The traces of blood on it in such a. case, would l»e but slight. A which was missing, has been said to, have been used by the assailant, but the police have elicited the fact that it was lent by Gaby, several months ago.

A wire-strainer, which would make a. handy weapon, was lound close by, but there was no indication that it had been used for that purpose. A double-ended case-opener,, was also found m the sbopj but it appeared to have been left exactly as Gaby put it awii;..

One of several lines of investigation has been followed to its conclusion, but it did not produce the result anti-

cipated. i However, the police are pursuing j other dues, which, it is hoped, wilt j prove more satisfactory. Inquiring j are being made over a fairly wide area, and it is understood that £l4 was found by police in Gaby’s shop. Important developments have taken place in. the search for the person who assaulted and killed William Gaby, the 73-year-old storekeeper of Arundel, on Friday night. Police officials admitted, this evening, that the case had developed, but to give any details at present would seriously prejudice a successful issue, they said. What the nature of these developments is cannot be ascertained as yet. but the two Timaru detectives who first acted in the case came to Christchurch last evening.

Constable I). Callahan, of Geraldine, who was called to the scene when the 'body was discovered, and Mr A. ,G. Bryant, uncle of the dead man, also left Geraldine for Christchurch late this evening.

AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK. ;

EARLY DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED.

CHRISTCHUIICH, September 14

With, dramatic, suddenness events in tlie Arundel murder case have taken a, sensational turn. Superintendent Ainu Cameron, who is in charge oM the investigation, said this morning that lie was very optimistic and the position ,was very much more hopeful now than it was on Sunday and the trend of the inquiry was such that very important developments were .expected within 48 hours. He added that this point had been reached through the co-operation of police in Dunedin, Timaru and Christchurch aided by the great assistance of members of the public. The police net which has been 'spread over a wide area froth Dunejdin to Christchurch, narrowed down yesterday and late in the afternoon vital information was received at the police headquarters at Geraldine. : .