A CLERK’S DEATH

Inangahua Times, 25 August 1931, Page 2

A CLERK’S DEATH

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES POLICE INVESTIGATING. (Per United Assn.) PALMERSTON NORTH. Lust Night. * Suspicious circumstance* surround the death of Edwin John Blake/, .v. clerk employed at Palmerston North Railway Station, who was found dead •this morning on a country "l»ve-road at Karel®, aix miles from the city, with bullet wounds in his head, chest and arms. The police are investigating Blakeway visited friends on Sunday night who live about a mile from the **cer * of the tragedy, end he spent a plea*' arnt evening and left to return t? Palmerston at eleven p.m. His body lay on the .roadside «»” night to be discovered by a newspaper runner at 7.30 a.m. stone cold. It was at first thought! that be ha 1 fallen from a bicycle he was riding, but the machine was not damaged and appeared to have been boon careful \y hud on the road. The body was lying on the grass, fif ’■ecu feet further on. Foul play i» suspected. Deceased was 26 years of age. Hi* parents reside at Avonbead Rond, upper Kiecarton, Ohristehiurch.

A Case of Murder Deceased's Money Missing This day The police are now convinced that Edwin Blakewell. aho was found deid on the Lor burnKarere Road early in the morning yesterday, was murdered. The postmortem revealed bullet wounds in tbe hand, wrist, chest and head. It is believed the shots were fired from either a repeating rifle or an automatic revolver. Five empty cartridge shells were found at the scene of the crime. At the time the crime was perpetrated, deceased was cycling back to Palmerston North. He was apparently hailed from the side of the road and dismounted and went back and was shot. When the deceased left tbe bouse of a friend nearbv, he was wearing gloves. These were not on tbe hands when the body was found, but clasped underneath. Indications point to the fact that deceased tried to prevent the assailant shooting him, this accounting for the shots in tbe band and wrist.

Deceased is believed to have had a roll of notes in his poss ssion. These were not on the body.