MERCER SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21468, 17 April 1933, Page 8

MERCER SHOOTING

SEARCH BY THE POLICE. YOUNG MAN ARRESTED 4 END OF INTENSIVE SEARCH ABANDONED MOTOR-CAR As the result of one of the most intensive searches ever made by the police in the Auckland Province, following the wounding by shooting on Friday evening of Mr. James Pennington Bates, service station proprietor, of Mercer, a young man was arrested near Frankton Junction on Saturday night. The arrest followed a hunt lasting for nearly 24 hours, in which 40 police from all districts between Auckland and Hamilton were concerned. After the shooting the first clue was received when at midnight Constable W. E. McGruer, of Ngaruawahia, discovered a "baby" car which had been stolen at about 7 p.m. on Friday from Beach Road, Auckland, just north of the township on the Great South Road. The vehicle had a punctured tyre on one back wheel, and the spare tyro was also fiat. Previously Constable McGruer had passed a man walking toward Ngaruawahia. As soon as the Auckland and Hamilton police had been notified, DetectiveSergeant J. Thompson and Constable Harris, of Hamilton, went to Ngaruawahia, while Detective-Sergeant P. J. Doyle, of Auckland, interviewed the wounded man at the Auckland Hospital. Commencement of Search After receiving a description of the assailant, the detective sergeant was joined by Detectives Mahood and Wilson. The three, with two constables, set out by car for Ngaruawahia, arriving at 2.30 a.m. Another constable followed by motor-cycle, while Sergeant Cowan, of Pukekohe, also went to Ngaruawahia, where the police were further reinforced by constables from stations in the district. Later four more men were sent from Auckland, while Detective White, Sergeant Anniss and a number of constables from Hamilton were also despatched. By Friday evening 40 men were engaged in the chase. The fingerprint expert at Auckland, Constable Francis, examined the abandoned car, which was guarded after it had been found. The hunt for the wanted man was supervised by Inspector D. C. Fraser, of Hamilton. Every road leading from Ngaruawahia was closely guarded, all the outlets to Hamilton either by the Great South Road or the River Road, to Huntly West, to Whatawhata, to Waingaro, to Taupiri and to Horsham Downs being watched. Men were also posted along the railway lines, while three parties of police moved through tho district constantly by car. Residents and farmers in the district were visited and asked to notify the police if they saw a man resembling the description of the assailant. Vehicles Stopped on Roads Several times the police received information, which seemed likely to lead to an arrest, but after further inquiries it was found in each case that the suspect could give a satisfactory explanation. Vehicles on all roads between Hamilton and Mercer were stopped and their occupants questioned, while, in some cases, individuals were searched, and required to establish their identity and previous movements. Both banks of tho Waikato River in the district were also searched thoroughly. Shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday a young man was arrested by Sergeant T. Moriarty and Constable McLean, of Frankton. The railway line had been specially closely guarded, and while the two policemen were making inquiries and keeping a watch near tho Frankton station, they saw the arrested man walking beside the line toward them. They questioned him, and as the sergeant was not satisfied with tho replies he received, the man was taken to the Hamilton police station, where he was later questioned by DetectiveSergeant Doyle. Arrested Man Questioned The man, who did not look distressed or tired, refused a meal when it was offered him and denied all knowledge of tho offence. He later made a statement to the detective-sergeant. When the suspect was arrested no weapon or ammunition was found in his possession, while no sign of a revolver was discovered in tho abandoned car. A search was later mac]e for the weapon, which was not found. It was reported to the police on Saturday morning by the caretaker of tho Maori Hostel in Parnell that a young man who had been staying with him had not returned homo since 7 p.m. on Friday and that a five-cham-bered large calibre revolver was also missing. Tho arrested man was brought to Auckland early yesterday afternoon and will be charged in the Police Court this morning with attempting to murder Mr. Bates. A report from tho Auckland Hospital late last evening stated that Mr. Bates was progressing quite satisfactorily.