MISSING LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 12

MISSING LINK

THE EUAWARG MYSTERY

FATE OF MR. LAKEY STILL NO TRACE OF BODY ASSISTANCE OF SETTLERS [BY T2XECHAPH €?ZCIAX> KEPOBTTs] EUZCTLY. Friday Much attention has been attracted liv the announcement that there is- 2 reward of £"100 for the discovery of Mr. Samuel Pender La key, who has been missing from his farm at Unaware since the death of his wife, Mrs. Christobel Laker. There is every indication that tie search for Mr. Laker's br-dr will be of as extremely thorough nalure daring Tee week-end. While the oSer is naturally an inducement for more helpers to cooperate frith the police working from the I-akc-r farmhouse, the settlers in the Puawaro district hare given conspicuous service during an investigation now approaching three •weeks' duration by voluntarily assisting the police in a task of the most arduous nature. The work of the settlers ha# illustrated strikingly their desire for a solution of the mystery. The case has reached an advanced stage, but the police are particular';.- anxious that Mr. Laker's body, assuming that he Jz&s been murdered and his body bidden, as the investigators believe, should be found. The discovery would probably establish the cause of Mr. Laker's death. The police at present hold the belief that he was shot, but there is aiways the possibility that he died in another manner. Mr. Lakey's Dog Engaged

Numbers or dogs hare been engaged in searching the surrounding swamp and scrub country, and the principal figure among them has been "Smut." the dog owned by Mr. Lakey. Ee was used on the farm. for herding Mr. Lakey's mob of c-attle, but the police have been hopeful that the animal could lead the way to any place where hie master could be buried, "Smut" has been worked long hours, and on several days it has been necessary xo rest him at the farmhouse. . The effects cf Mr. and Mrs. Lafcey found in the farmhouse hare been material for an especially close scrutiny by Detect ires Snedden, Albopp and r mdlay. A hope has been held cut that murdered according to the existing supposition, would have had some inkling -o their possible fate. It is understood that nothing has been found so Jar among the papers kept in the farmhouse to show that there was any warning of a tragedy. Mrs. Lasey was especially careful in keeping letters and documents. She preserved correspondence with her husband over many years, and the letters make up a very human history. A striding aspect is the absenoj of Qiseord between Mr. and .Mrs. Lakev. "hile sue was in England Mrs. Lakev received numbers of letters from her future husband dealing with his hopes of success m New Zealand. From the letters it is "easy to understand the aimcukieii the missing farmer enoounterea when he first reached Ruawaro ana created a good farm from scrub and swamp country. Meagre Comfort at Farm

The life of the couple at Ruawaro was one or toil. The is meagrely furnished, and there are' few or the comforts enjoyed in homes in cities or, for that matter, in small townships. Mr. and Mrs. Lakey principally occupied themselves with developing their property, and their iiouse hac no embellishment in equipment. Ordinary oil lamps serve the po.ice there at the moment, and the kitchen is actually the centre of activity for the camp as a whole. A few yards away from the back door there is the lean-to, where Mr. Lakey is believed to have met his death, and this bare shelter is the "office"' for the investigators. Official reports have been typed there, and important conferences between officers have been held.

Paradox, indeed. characterises the activities at the farm, detectives in the lean-to type th?ir reports regarding a crime of the gravest nature, under the same roof a turkey and a goose are nesting. The extraordinarily homely atmosphere of the farm has been scarcely impaired by the grim proceedings. More than a dozen ducklings roam about the place. "While police officers are engaged in probing swamps, those who are required for domestic duties at the farmhouse are not forgetful of the welfare of the ducklings. Almost daily someone will uproot turf to give them a feast of worms.

The investigation has not been without humour. It is not unusual in murder cases for people to offer imaginative information. The Ruawaro mystery is no exception. Residents in the district, and even relatives of the officers engaged, have offered clues from dreams regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Lakev's body. Some of the information has been advanced in all seriousness. Other persons not acquainted with the swampland havo been intrigued by what appear to be sledge marks over the crust of swamp near the Lakey property. Several were not aware for some days that what were apparently skid marks were actually runways made through the rccds bv pukekos. Difficulties for Searchers "While there is a substantial reward offering for the discovery of Mr. Lakev's body, any investigator proceeding to the district would have to take the conditions into consideration. Some expense woulcf be entailed for equipment necessary for a stay in the Ruawaro district. There is no township, and a search of the swamps, which are so plentiful in the area, would make proper wading gear necessary. Mr. "W. G. Wohlmann, commissioner of police, and Mr. S. Till, superintendent in Auckland, again visited Ruawaro to-day, returninc to Auckland this evening. No trace of Mr. Lakey § body was reported, although arrangements aro in train lor a further intensive seaieh of the district.