Fob! Play Sespeeted

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7066, 27 January 1933, Page 7

Fob! Play Sespeeted

MYSTERY AT TE AWAMUTU POLICE INVESTIGATING . Per Press Association TE AWAMUTU, Jan. 25. . With a rifle wound in tho head, tho body of Walter Farror Middlebrook, aged 33 years, butcher, of To Awnmutu, was found lying in a vacant section at the rear of tho Te Awamutu infants’ school shortly boforo midday on Monday last. While there was nothing at the time to suggest foul play, it is understood that important developments have occurred, which have led to polico investigation. Rigid rcticenco is being observed in official quarters, and when interviewed by an Auckland Star representative to-day Detective J. Thompson, who is in charge of tho investigation, refused to comment. “Tho body was clothed in a pyjama suit, and the feet were baro, when I discovered it,” explained Mr. S. A. Brandon, a relief worker. “A riflowas clasped firmly in the left hand, and lying across and pointing to tho right, away from the body. The wound, I understand, was on the right side of the head, although at the time I thought a shot had entered the mouth, as it appeared to bo cut about. Although the body was surrounded by fern, blackberry and long grass, there was nothing to indicate that the dead man had staggered through the fern and blackberry. There was a big bruise, however, on the sole of one foot.”

In the course of inquiries it was ascertained that Middlebrook lived in a room at the back of his butcher’s shop and that this was found to be in a fetate of disorder. Those who saw the body after its discovery in the vacant section state that the charge entered near the right temple and came out near tho top of the nose. When the body was found tbe rifle was clasped in the left hand.