BRUTAL MURDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 February 1931, Page 4

BRUTAL MURDER

AT HAWERA HINDOO TOMAHAWKED SHOP TILL RANSACKED (By Telegraph—Press Association) HAWERA, 2nd February. With five frightful wounds in tlie back of the head and the face covered with a coir mat, the body of Nana Glihiba. a Hindoo known familiarly as David, was discovered bv the police in the back room of his fruiterer’s shop in High street at about 11 o’clock last night. . The wounds were apparently inflicted with a tomahawk, and tlie man bad been dead, according to medical opinion, at least twelve hours. Robbery is the suggested motive for the murder, as the till had been ransacked. It would appear that the deceased was the victim of an unexpected attack, as there wereno signs’of a struggle or of any disorder in the shop or living rooms. The deceased was reputed to be a man of some means, and had been in business in Hawera for fifteen years. He owned tlie freehold of tlie shop lie occupied, as well as of other business properties. It is estimated that the Saturday night takings would be about £6O. A WOMAN’S DISCOVERY NEW This Day. In connection with the murder of the Hindu Mana Clihiba, a woman living nearby stated that she visited deceased’s premises on Sunday at 6.45 p.m. and saw the door ajar and the lights burning. Tlie woman believed the sound she heard was tlie sizzling of a frying pan. j; She was acquainted with deceased, and . had wished to purchase some bananas. She called “David,” but there was no reply. Going closer the woman glanced up the passage leading from the back door to another room, and saw in the gloom a hand, protruding from a huddled form, covered with blood. Although tlie woman became hysterical she did not then sense tragedy. It occurred to her to ring deceased’s legal adviser. The police were informed, but the cloors were found to be shut, and repeated knocking brought no response. The woman later telephoned that the lights were* still burning. Detectives Meiklejohn and Kearney are • engaged on the case. 1 .