WEST COAST DRAMA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 267, 13 October 1941, Page 6

WEST COAST DRAMA

MAN HUNT CONTINUES. DEATH OF SIXTH VICTIM. (Press Assn.) GREYMOUTH, Oct. 12. Dramatic events in the search for Stanley George Eric Graham, on Saturday, included his appearance at the Lower Kokatahi Hotel, about four miles from his home at about dawn after he had been , sighted in the vicinity of his home about five hours earlier. In both cases volunteer searchers fired at him without effect. Graham's visits to Koiterangi and Kokatahi estab-. lished that he had been injured, although not seriously enough to prevent his making a hurried escape on both occasions. Those who saw him declared that his left arm was tied to the trunk of his body, whilst the shot fired by him in retaliation at Kokatahi was fired from the hip, apparently with a .303 rifle. Evidence of his injuries was found in the discovery of a blood-stained singlet and jersey at a hut owned by Air C. Smith near Mount Camelback in a southerly direction from the Graham homestead. The weather at the week-end was fairly favourable for the search. There was rain on Saturday night and this morning, and moonlight at night. Graham may still be hiding in the immediate vicinity of Koiterangi. Hundreds of searchers spent Saturday scouring the bush and scrub over a wide area round Graham’s house. Alount Camelback, and Kokatahi. The searchers arc continually reiniorced with the arrival of police officers from various parts of New Zealand. Advancing over a selected area, the searchers are kept just sufficiently apart for each to see his companions on both sides. The men have service rifles and big quantities of ammunition. Guards were placed at Air Smith s hut and a constant watch is being kept on another hut in the vicinity in anticipation of Graham’s return for food. AIRCRAFT IN SEARCH. Aircraft co-operated with the ground parties in the search over the weekend. Owing to doubt about Graham s whereabouts it was decided not to permit a bomber to drop bombs. Although Graham’s whereabouts could be detected from the air it would require continuous reconnaissances at a ' low altitude because of the nature of the country. There are several planes at Hokitika and a private plane was used to assist the Air Force machines. Graham made desperate attempts to break through the cordon on Inday night and Saturday before dawn. The first clash, in which Graham fired no shot, occurred at Koiterangi at 11.20 p.m. on Friday when eight men, all of Koiterangi, were hiding behind a hand barricade erected almost opposite Graham’s house. Graham was first seen in a crouching position 50 yards away, proceeding along a blackberry fence. Following instructions the watchers fired first. , . Graham dodged and made oft along the roadway from the hall. Orders had previously been given that the men must remain at their posts for fear or causing confusion in the darkness and Graham was not followed. Graham must have made a speedy escape through the rough country, for he was not sighted again in the vicinity. Indicating his daring, he appeared at the Lower Kokatahi hotel at 4.40 a.m., and, alter attempting to open the door, was noticed by Air G. Symon, a Grevmouth volunteer, wlio had spentthe night in the vicinity. In the dawn light Graham was standing at the hotel front door and made off down the front 'verandah, Symon following. In another dodging run Graham headed for the Catholic Church grounds opposite swinging round in his dash to tire from the hip at Ins pursuer, who narrowlv missed being hit. Jumping a fence, Graham disappeared in the thick scrub. Air Symon was joined b,\ two other guards Messrs Cecil Aieharry and George Cooper, of Greymbutta. and with the licensee of the hotel (Air S. F. Richardson) the tour men kept up a running fire as thy figure disappeared. Apparently none of the shots iound their mark. It was about 4.30 a.m when the searchers and guards inside the hote first heard someone knocking at tinside door followed by hammering on the front door. -It was then that Graham was identified. Those who saw him state that lie appeared to have his left arm tied across his stomach and lie was wearing a football jersey, khaki shorts, and gumboots. He is also believed to have had ammunition and a belt Despite his disabilities Grahant showed no signs of haying been seriously hurt. He was able to scale the four-foot fence on the church propertj without effort. POLICE REINFORCEMENTS. The search was resumed in the vicinity as soon as the light became strong reinforcements being secured from other parts of the district. Police reinforcements from Hokitika with Detective-Sergeants Knight and Davis took up the search, but no trace ot Graham was found. To have reached the hotel iroin Koiterangi, Graham must have forded the Kokatahi River and travelled nearly four miles through the scrub, for the careful placing of guards on the road prevented him proceeding that way. Thougiiout Saturday the police reinforcements continued to arrive till over 50 members of the force are actively trying to take Graham dead or alive. By plane from Auckland came Sergeant Brown and six constables, all experienced in the class of work required. Constables AlcQuarrie, of Karamca, and Wilson, of AVaiuta, have also joined. Inspector Sweeney, of AYellington, arrived by plane on Saturday afternoon, there being now three inspectors engaged,, the others being Inspector Colwell, of Greymoutli, and Inspector Carroll,’ of Christchurch.

The country is as difficult as any in New Zealand to find a man of Graham’s type, with unrivalled knowledge of the land round his home. The bloodstained singlet is of a type known to have been worn bv Graham and was discovered at Smith’s hut at the foot of Mt. Camelback. It had a large bullet lioie in the shoulder and was soaked with blood. Mr Smith’s hut had been unoccupied since last week and the discoverv was not made until he returned, when he noticed that the door was shut and the blinds drawn. Mr Smith returned to his hut on Saturday morning with the searchers and found that some of his provisions had been taken. In addition to the singlet, a pair of bloodstained trousers were found outside the hut and the jersey was on the floor. The bullet hole in the singlet corresponded with the one in the jersey, also smaller bullet holes lower down in the garments, but the speed with which Graham was able to move on Saturday morning indicated that these could not have been very effective. It is considered likely that after Thursday night’s shooting Graham made his way back about three miles to Smith’s hut after Mr King hit him following the shooting of Messrs Coulson and Hutchison. Orders have been given since Friday that the police and searchers must shoot on sight. Practically all the searchers are under orders from Inspector Calwell.

Commissioner Cummings again visited the district several times during the week-end and expressed himself as satisfied with the measures taken. AA’ith Inspector Cahvell he visited Graham’s house on Saturday and inspected the country in which the fugitive is hiding. After the incident on Friday, when some searchers against police orders rushed the bush in which Graham was thought to be hiding, conferences have been held between the police and the men so that a unified plan of action has been decided upon to prevent the risk of careless shooting. On Saturday night the guards at vital points were doubled in anticipation of a further visit from Graham, but he remained in hiding throughout the night. Traffic was again ordered off tile roads in view of the order to shoot on sight and the guards were forbidden to move from their stations.

The poli<& and guards are suffering from the strain of their all-night vigils. Since AVednesday some of the police have worked continuously for 48 hours with little more than an hour’s sleep. The searchers likewise have spent long hours in the open country. Efforts have been made to relieve the tired men at intervals. GRAHAM AGAIN AVOUNDED. Alost of the guards at Koiterangi were withdrawn to-night, the military authorities having assumed control under the police with machine-guns trained on Graham’s house in an effort to capture him if he makes an appearance.

Over forty Burnham Territorials arrived, including signallers and Lewis gunners, and to-day were entrenched near the house in expectatation of a third appearance, which is doubtful, as it is now known that Graham was seriously wounded in an encounter with armed guards at 4.15 this mottling when spotted by twenty observers behind sandbags under the Koiterangi Hall. A sharp exchange of shots followed, Graham disappearing behind a blackberry fence into the bush leaving a trail of blood beside the fence, Otherwise there has been no appearance of Graham since yesterday morning’s shootings.

The aeting-Minister of Police (Mr Webb) and Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., arrived by special plane from Wellington this morning. Alter attending the funerals of Messrs Coulson and Hutchison with Commissioner Cummings they proceeded to Koiterangi, viewing the preparations of the military and police lor the capture of Graham. In a statement Mr Webb said Mr Fraser was so concerned that he arranged tor them to visit and investigate to see if there was anything the Government had left undone that could be done to help in providing facilities for the police, home guards, and military. ' I say definitely that the Government is anxious to render every possible assistance regardless of expense to capture Graham. Commissioner Cummings has explained fully the organisation established to bring the murderer to book. Mr Webb said he w’as inspired by the way the Home Guard w’as cooperating with the military and police and the way the womenfolk were bravely providing refreshments ior the menfolk. The Minister said the organisation of all sections was highly satisfactory. rendering Graham s chance o remaining uncaptured longer linposs--1 Webb and O’Brien conveyed personally Mr Fraser’s and the Go\ernftent’s sympathy to the rel ® tn ® s ; There were very large crowds at the funerals at Hokitika to-day of Messrs Hutchison and Coulson. Guardsmen formed guards of honour Therewere hundreds of messages of condolence and lorry loads of floral tributes CONSTABLE BEST’S DEATH. The tragic happenings of last week were aded to after noon on featu day when Constable Best, who was wounded on Wednesday at Koiterangi, nasecl away at the Westland Hospital. He was 42 years of age and married with three children. His parents reside at Morrmsville, Auckland. The death has caused increased soirow through the community where Constable Best was greatly honoured for his sterling and upright nature He was a member of Pacific Lodge and took a keen interest in all public and social events in his district of Ivameri. His funeral will bake place on Monday afternoon. , It is now revealed that Graham, aftci he had wounded Constable Best and the other three police were lying dead, shot him again arid then dictated a confession to the constable and made him sign it. The confession said that Constable Best and the other constables jiad come out to “murder” Graham. Constable Best, gravely -wounded, signed it to keep Graham quiet and Graham then went out to the bush, leaving him lying across tile dead bodies of Constables Jordan and Tulloch.