RANGITOTO MURDERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 12

RANGITOTO MURDERS

QUEST FOR A MAORI MORE POLICE ENGAGED DIFFICULT SEARCH IN BUSH [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Friday The search for a Maori who has been missing from Rangitoto, near Te Kuiti, since Tuesday, October 9, and who is wanted in connection with the murder of Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Davenport, of Rangitoto, and their two sons, is proceeding. Better weather prevailed today and a greater area was covered. The police were engaged in examining the scrub on both sides of the road leading from the Davenport homestead for a distance of eight miles to the west. They were looking for a rifle which was in the possession of the missing Maori, but the search was unsuccessful.

A native whose description resembled that of the missing Maori was reported to have been seen on the Frankton Junction railway platform. This native visited Hamilton and purchased a blue serge suit, a brown overcoat, a fawn felt hat and canvas shoes. He was carrying an old suitcase. The police have been unable to locate this man, who, like the wanted Maori, had several front teeth missing. Inspector C. W. Lopdell visited Rangitoto yesterday. On his return he stated that the rain which was falling during the time he was there tad made the penetration of the bush impossible. Somo idea of the density of the bush near the Davenport homestead may be gathered from the fact that two constables on retracing their steps through a piece of bush occupied 20 minutes to cover 150 yards.

DESCRIPTION OF HISSING MAN POLICE SEEK INFORMATION Four constables from Auckland left for To Kuiti by train yesterday afternoon to assist in the search for the missing Maori. They were Constables Allen, Paterson, Vickers and Sylvester. Two other members of the force from Auckland, Constables Taylor and Becroft, have been in the Rangitoto district for some days to help the local police in their difficult task. At the request of the police, a description of the Maori was broadcast from station IYA yesterday, together with a request that any information concerning a man answering the description should be forwarded to the nearest police station immediately. The details are as follows:—Aged 20, sft. Bin. or sft. lOin. tall, of medium build and Jewish appearance, good-looking, with four top teeth missing; may be wearing new black canoe shirt, or pink shirt, dungaree, brown or blue serge trousers, grey tweed coat, brown overcoat and light fawn hat; also had white collar, canary-lemon shirt with collar and patent fastener attached; may be carrying old leather suitcase. It is believed by the police that he may seek employment. . . . The message added that a Maori of the above description was seen on Frankton railway station on Thursday of last week, and that the man was believed to have gone northward.