AN ARREST

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1937, Page 5

AN ARREST

IN ARUNDEL CASE A LABOURER CHARGED. (Per Press Association—Copyright). CHRISTCHURCH, September 14. Having been attested on Monday evening, on another charge, alter his arrival in Christchurch, on the express, from Dunedin,, a man liaiped Randall Reginald David Sipith, a labourer, of no fixed abode, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court here this afternoon, with the murder of William Gaby, at Arundel, on September 10. Oil the application of Chief Detective W. 11. Dunlop, Mr H. A. Young, S.M., remanded the accused to appear on September 21. Smith, who was not represented by counsel, had no objection Co offer to a remand.

It appears that three detectives took Smith into cusody on Monday evening, at the Christchurch Railway Station, shortly after' 5 o’clock, and they later attested him on a charge of obtaining money and goods, of a total value of £8 16s 7d, from Gordon McHardie. at Seacliff, on September 13, by means of a valueless cheque, purporting to be signed by David Bell, and drawn on the Bank ol New Zealand, Geraldine.

-Jn (bis charge, Smith appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr E. C. Levvev, S.M-, at 9 a.m. to-day, an hour earlier than tlie usual time for the sitting of the Court. He was remanded until September ,20, on the application of Detective-Sergeant T. Holmes.

"The accused man is fairly tall ana thin, with long, dark brown hair, which is brushed back over his head. When he , stepped into the dock, Smith was wearing a grey coat, grey flannel trousers, a collarless blue sliirfc, a white sweater, and black pat-ent-leather shoes.

Inquiries are being made by the police for the owner, or driver, of an Essex motor car, that passed Arundel about 9 p.m. on the day of the tragedy, Friday, September 10/and picked up a man three or four miles south ot Arundel, and gave him a ride to "’infant

In a statement to “The Press’” made at Geraldine, to-day, Supt. A. Cameron, who has been in charge of the investitrations, said' that the police wished to thank those who came forward and gave information, or wlto had in any way assisted. The general public bad helped greatly in the work 'of the police, and bad given particularly trood service in the search for the missing weapon. The arrest of the man charged with the crime Mas tlie result of efficient co-oru*na-Uon between the police at Christchurcli, Tiinaru, and Dunedin. all of whom has assisted in following the thread. The movements of all strangers had been closely and checked, involving a good deal of work. Quite a lot of matters would have to he investigated before the police had their brief complete, and some little time might elapse before their case was ready for presentation to the Court.

Supt. Cameron remained at Gerldine this evening. Constable D. Callanan and Air A. G. Bryant, a relative of Gaby, who came to Christchurch on Monday evening, returned to Geraldine ibis evening, and it is expected that Detective Sergeants Thomas and J. Bickerdike will return there to-mor-row evening.