POLICEMAN SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 8

POLICEMAN SHOT

KILLED BY MAORI ASSAILANT'S SUICIDE TRAGEDY IN WAIKATO HUNTED MAN'S CRIME DAVENPORT MURDERS [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL R F.PORTF.RI MORRINSVILLE, Sunday Wanted by the police in connection with the murder of the four members of the Davenport family at Rangitoto, King Country, on October 9, Henare Hona, a Ma.ori, aged 20, fatally shot Constable Thomas Heeps. of Morrinsville, when he was being Questioned yesterday afternoon on a farm at Tatuanui, near Morrinsville. This morning the Maori shot himself as he was on the point of being arrested. The death of both men occurred in the Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, this afternoon. Under the name of "Laurie King." Hona was engaged at. the Morrinsville labour bureau on Thursday by Mr. James Downs, manager of the homestead herd on the farm of Mr. Percy Rushton at Tatuanui. He was driven to the farm by Mr. G. Carter, a Morrinsville taxi-driver. On reading the description of Hona published in the Herald on Saturday, Mr. Carter recognised it as that of bis passenger of Thursday, and conveyed his suspicions to Constable Heeps, who yesterday afternoon proceeded to the farm to investigate. Manager's Narrative Mr. Downs said that shortly after three o'clock, he found Constable Heeps questioning the Maori at the milking shed. The three of them went to the Maori's room at the back of Mr. Downs' cottage, about 300 yards from the road. Constable Heeps had with him a description of the missing man and bis effects. "When we entered the room, the Maori showed Constable Hedps his clothes hanging in the wardrobe behind the door," Mr. Downs said. "I was reading the description and the constable was comparing the points mentioned in it with the Maori's characteristics. Mr. Heeps lifted back the Maori's lip and we saw that several of his teeth were missing. We also noted that the tip of the little finger of his left hand had been removed. Constable Heeps then asked the Maori for his suitcase, and the Maori partly pulled it out from under the bed. Two Shots Fired "We were standing near the door and the Maori had his back to us as he put some of the clothes from the suitcase on the bed," Mr. Downs continued. "Constable Heeps told him to bring the case right out. Up to this point, there was nothing in the man's demeanour to suggest anything untoward. The next moment the Maori bent down, gulled a .32 calibre revolver from the suitcase, turned round quickly and fired two shots. One hit Constable Heeps over the left temple and the other lodged in his arm. Constable Heeps dropped where he had been standing." Mr. Dowqs said he dashed out of the room to procure assistance and a weapon, and the Maori made off over the farm. Mr. Rushton was advised of the tragedy, and he summoned Dr. G. Craig, of Morrinsville, and the Te Aroha ambulance, and notified the police at Morrinsville and Hamilton. Constable Heeps. _ still conscious, was removed to the Waikato Hospital. Discoveries Among Effects Further search of the . Maori's room produced evidence beyond doubt that he was Henare Hona. for whom the police had been searching nearly a fortnight in connection with the murder of the Davenport family. Photographs of the Maori similar to those found in Hona's room at the farm of Major H. H. S. Westmacott at Rangitoto were among his effects. There was also a pocketbook bearing the name of Mr. Edward Davenport. The clothes were new and were similar to those purchased by a young Maori in Hamilton on October 12, and for whom the police were making inquiries. Preparations for an intensive search were made when Senior.-Sergeant J. J. Power, of Hamilton, and Sergeant T. Moriarty, of Frankton, arrived at 6.30 p.m. with two car-loads of police. Each man was armed with an automatic pistol or a rifle. ■ Ammunition was served oilt at the farm and the weapons were loaded. About 30 farmers, all armed, arrived, to join in the search, the total forces available at the height of the search being about 45 police, drawn from Auckland and other stations, and the same number of settlers. An alarm was sent to all farms and police stations.

End of the Search Throughout the night various reports were received and investigated. The first definite information was received at 10 o'clock this morning when Mr. J. Cassidy, of Kiwitnhi, advised the police that a man had been seen at the back of his property, near the Morrinsville-Rotorua railway line, three miles to the south of Morrinsville and about five miles from Mr. Rushton's farm. The report had come from Mrs. 0. .Tohansen, an occupant of a cottage in the vicinity, and Mr. Cassidy advised that his milkers were guarding a bridge over which the man would have to pass if he wanted to reach the open country bounded by the Maungakawa Earnges. He had been seen crouching and running in a ditch about oft. deep. Two parties of police, under Sergeant Tocher, of Auckland, and De-tective-Sergeant .T. Thomnson, of Hamilton, were sent out. When the police were near the suspected hiding place, the Maori disclosed himself. Apparently realising that his escape was cut off, he jumped out of the ditch and, lying on the ground, put the revolver to his head and shot himself. Death In Hospital The Maori was alive hut unconscious when the police reached him. A rough stretcher was obtained and he was carried about three-quarters of a mile to Mr. Cassidv's farm, where he was given attention by Dr. C. H. King, of Morrinsville, who ordered his removal to hospital. He died shortly after 2 o'clock this afternoon, 20 minutes after the death of Constable Heeps. The revolver was found to eontain three live shells and one spent shell. Constable Thomas Heeps was born in Scotland about 50 years ago. He came to New Zealand as a young man and joined the police force in Welling-, ton in 1910. He served at Auckland, Waihi and Matamata, and was appointed to take charge of the Morrinsville police station eight years ago. He was highly respected by residents of Morrinsville and was held in the highest regard by follow members of the police force in the Waikato. He was married, with two adult sons. . The funeral of Constable Heeps will take plac<? at 2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon.