THE BLOMFIELD MURDER

Northern Advocate, 4 November 1931, Page 4

THE BLOMFIELD MURDER

NO ARREST YET. HUNT FOR STRANGE MAN. (Special to “Northern Advocate.’’) AUCKLAND, This Day. The search for the assailant who so ■brutally attacked Mr Arthur James Blomfield, in the Wellesley Street Pharmacy on Friday evening, is proceeding and so far no arrests have been made. This morning a number of detectives and constables carried out a search of the Arch Hill Gully, at the back of Newton, on the other side of Great North Road. It is believed that this was done as the result of a report that a strange man was seen there yesterday. Despite a thorough search of the surroundings, no man was found to be in hiding.

FURTHER CLUES. (Special to “Northern Advocate.’’) AUCKLAND, This Day. In connection with the murder of Mr. Blomfield, an Auckland chemist, Mr. v Hall Skelton, whose offices are in the Pacific Building, says that on Friday afternoon he left the building in company with a client at five minutes past hve. They both passed the door of Mr. Blomfield’s shop and turned the corner into Lome Street. “After we had walked a few yards,” said Mr. Skelton, “I heard someone hurrying behind me. It was a young man about 23 years of age. I did not take particular notice of him, until he crossed Lome Street and met another man who was standing outside : ■ a garage, immediately opposite the rear of St. .James’ Theatre. The man near, the garage door was evidently waiting for the one who passed me. Both appeared to be excited, and did not remain a second after they met. Both were gesticulating and they immediately hurried off up Lome Street in the direction of St. Paul Street.” Mr. Hall Skelton added that he was not able to give an exact description of either man.

The proprietor of the garage was next interviewed. He said at 5 o’clock he saw a young man, wearing a light raincoat, standing near the garage door. “Thinking that he might be a prospect I intended to approach him and ask him if he desired to look at a motor car, but something caused me. to return to the office and when I next went out the man had - disappeared, ” he said. “I would know that man again, I’m sure.” The theft of a glass jar containing several cakes of soap, from the counter of Mr. Blomfield’s shop, is being investigated by detectives. This glass jar was stolen either on Saturday or Monday night before the murder and not the previous Friday. “Mr. Blomfield was in charge of the shop on both those evenings while I • was away,” said Mr, Wheeler this morning. ‘' On returning last Tuesday evening I asked Mr. Blomfield where the'jar of soap was, and he told me that someone had evidently stolen it on the Saturday or Monday night.”

A CHRISTCHURCH REPORT. ' MAN UNDER SUSPICION. (Special to “Northern Advocate.") CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Information that may have some bearing on the murder of Mr. Blomfield was given to the police yesterday by the proprietress of a prominent Christchurch hotel. A man applied at the hotel for a meal, saying he was penniless, and had gone without meals for three days. He was told he would be given a meal if he would come.back in half an hour, but he did not return. His description, as given by the proprietress, coincides exactly with that by the Auckland police, and telegraphed to Christchurch yesterday. The police are looking for the man.