RUAWARO MYSTERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 12

RUAWARO MYSTERY

FOUR WEEKS ELAPSE POLICE SEARCH MAINTAINED MR. LAKEY STILL UNTRACED [ lIV TKUXiRAI'II —■SI'KC'IA', REPORTER] HUXTLY, Sunday The? Ruawaro tragedy which is believed to involve the murder of Mr. Samuel Render Lakey and his wife, Mrs. Chrislobel Lakey, occurred four weeks ago this evening. Since the discovery of Mrs. Lakey'« body near the farmhouse on the morning following the suspected crime, there has been ceaseless activity in the district on the part of the police, who now number more than .50, in an effort to trace the husband, but no success has been achieved.

The case continues to command attention which is rarely given to a crime in New Zealand, and the settlers in the Ruawaro and neighbouring districts are showing increasing anxiety for a solution. While clues were uncovered during the first two weeks of tho case which evidently served to confirm the theory that Mr. and Mrs. Lakey wero both murdered, tho more recent days of tho investigation have nob yielded such decisive results, and tho inquiry has become principally a search for Mr. La key's body. This week-end saw a determined marshalling of tho police force engaged, and all likely country was covered with the thoroughness which has characterised the activities of the officers throughout the case. The weather was generally favourable, and, in consequence, a considerable area was traversed. . Search of Waterways Swamps and waterways continue to receive great attention, and tho more recent searches have included the Awaroa Creek, running into Lake Whangape. Although rough country extends between the Lakey farmhouse and the creek, the distance is not considerable, and the adjacent marshes would offer a convenient spot for tho disposal of the body. Lake Whangape is still being studied. Tho extensive sheet of water has been searched by officers in boats for days on end, while the swamps on its margin have been closely investigated. Lake Whangape is very shallow, but the abundant plant growth in its bed, apart from hampering any attempt at dragging operations, could provide a convenient hiding place for a body.

All this area extends northward from tlio Lakcy farmhouse. To tlio south there are coalmining districts, and tlio inquiry lias reached to Ul.ely places in the area, as far as the lofty limestone hills dividing the coalmining couutry from the coast. Somo attention is still being paid to removing burning coal slack at the Renown property at Rotowaro, but, in spite of long hours of labour under exacting conditions, nothing has been found to suggest that Mr. La key's body was secreted there. Time Possible for Disposal

Mi •s. Lakey's body was found about 11 a.m. on October J6, the assumption being that death occurred probably It hours previously. While it would appear that such a long time could have been spent in disposing of Mr. Lakey's body, accepting the theory that lie was murdered and that bis death occurred about the time of his wife's, the time was probably much shorter. The daily activity on the farms in the district would begin between I a.m. and f> a.m., and it is not thought likely that any possible perpetrator of the crime would risk detection while the settlers were going about their duties. One belief which is holding attention, in view of these surmises, is that Mr. Lakey's body was removed within a period of probably seven or eight hours. The means employed is still a matter for theory. Considerable secrecy exists in re; ird to the activities at the police camp at present, and strangers are not admitted to tlio Lakcy property. Numbers of motor-cars, bearing sightseers, most of whom were women, were driven to Unaware to-day, but the visitors' hopes of being escorted around the scene of the tragedy were quickly quashed by police guards, who wero posted on the roadway near the gate h> the Lakcy property. An Encouraging Signpost Casual callers, many of whom came from far afield, were told that it had been decided not to admit ordinary visitors. Somo of those who came showed great disappointment, but the stringent oilieial order could not be gainsaid. Three miles from the. Lakcy property, at the junction with the road to Naike, some considerate person erected a signpost bearing the words, "To Lakey's," during the week-end, the purpose patently being to guide visitors. To many of those who travelled long distances in vain, the inscription must have proved an annoyance in heightening their hopes over the last three miles to Ruawaro. All that 'could be seen by the visitors was the cluster of police tents at the top of a hill.

Mr. W. G. Wohlniann, commissioner of police, accompanied by two Auckland officials. Superintendent S. Till and Inspector J. W . Mollis, paid a further visit to Huawaro to-day, returning to Auckland in the evening.