A ROADSIDE MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 13

A ROADSIDE MYSTERY.

BODY OF UNKNOWN MAN.

DEATH IN LONELY WHARE.

A SWAG AND A BOOK.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAIHAPE, Friday. The Taihape police yesterday found, in an unoccupied whare on the roadside, about ten miles north of Hihitahi, the body of an unknown man, about 60 years of age. It was that of a man of medium height, sturdily built, with a pale complexion and dark hair turning grey, the head being partly bald, a pointed nose, grey eyes and grey moustache. The deceased was dressed in light grey trousers and a black shirt.

Lying alongside the body were a brown coat, a light felt hat, with a pips on top of it, a khaki overcoat, a swag containing blankets and an open book. No names were on the clothing, but the book, had "Edward Newman" stamped on it.

There is no documentary evidence to reveal the identity of the man. The position of the body indicated that death had resulted from natural cause 3. From all appearances the unknown man had been seated on his swag reading the book and suddenly expired. The police had never seen the deceased before, but they have received information that last Wednesday he obtained a billy of tea from a house a quarter of a mile from where the body was found. The body now lies at the hospital morgue awaiting identification. An inquest was opened to-day.