TAXICAB MURDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21743, 7 March 1934, Page 12

TAXICAB MURDER

INQUIRY BY CORONER RESUMPTION ON MONDAY A BAFFLING CRIME The inquiry into tho murder of tho taxi-driver Mr. James Hunter Blair, agod 53, who was found dying at tho wheel of his taxicab in King's Road, Mount Roskill, early on tho morning of October 15, is to be resumed next Monday afternoon before Mr. F>. K. Hunt,'S.M., coroner, it was announced yesterday. Tho inquest was commenced on the'morning after tho tragedy, when evidence of identification was given, and it was reported that death was duo to a fracture of tho skull, resulting from two heavy blows with a blunt instrument.

With tho fatal attack by somo mysterious assailant upon the chemist Mr. Arthur James Blomfield, who was found dying in his dispensary in Wollesley Street; East, City, on the evening of October 30, 1931, tho Blair case ranks as one of the most baffling crimes in New Zealand in recent years. For nearly five months an inquiry of tho most exhaustive nature had been conducted by tho police, with Detective-Sergeant A, G. McHugh in charge, but the investigation has failed to yield a weapon, a motive sufficiently satisfying, or a witness of the crime. A milkman found Mr. Blair at 5.30 a.m. on October 15. The taxi-driver wqs unconscious and ho died' as he was being admitted to tho Auckland Hospital.