INTENSE SEARCH

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

INTENSE SEARCH

LARGE ARMED FORCE - \ DELAYED INFORMATION TAXI-DRIVER'S STORY DECEIVING DEMEANOUR [BY. TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER.] MORRINSVILLE, Sunday How important it is that early advice should be given to the police of the presence of a suspect when they are engaged in a man hunt, and how an unassuming demeanour may conceal a desperate murderer, are points which obtrude sharply from the tragedy enacted on Mr. P. Rushton's farm at Tatuanui yesterday. Ever since the wholesale slaying of the Davenport family at Rangitoto was discovered on October 10 active search for t.bo mining' Maori, Henare Hona, had been maintained by large bodies of police. Principal attention was given to the dense bush in the neighbourhood of Rangitoto. The police nevertheless were not unmindful of the possibility that Hona might have left the district and his description was circulated. Seen on Railway Station | A report that a man answering the I description of Hona had been seen on ! the Kiokio railway station, 15 miles j north of Te Kuiti, and about 20 miles j from the Davenport farm, on Wednes- ; day, October 10, was not received by j the Hamilton police until early this i week. Similarly, reports that a man ! like the suspect had been seen at ! Frankton and Hamilton two days later • were not made until several days had j elapsed. I It was when these intimations came | to hand, with other evidence suggesting j that the Maori had escaped frpm the vicinity of Rangitoto, that further steps tp intensify the search were taken. A full description of the wanted man was again circulated and was made public, the details being set out in the Herald on Saturday. No suspicion that his passenger was Hona was in the mind of Mr. G. Carter when his taxi was hired by Hona last Thursday to take him to the farm I at Tatuanui. Mr. Carter said he saw I the Maori leave the Auckland-Rotorua express at Morrinsville and he asked him if he wanted a car. Hona- replied that he did not know and then said he had a job to go-to at Walton. He also said he had practically no money. Engagement Secured Mr. Carter said he saw the Maori later in the afternoon and tried to make a telephone call to Walton for him. When he could not get connected Mr. Carter suggested that the Maori should apply to Mr. A. Buckley, of the Morrinsville labour bureau, for a farm | job. This led to his engagement by Mr. j James Downs, who manages the home- ] stead herd on Mr. Rushton's farm on j a share-milking basis. Mr. Carter j drove Hona to the farm and Mr. : Downs paid the fare. ! Mr. Downs said Hona, or Laurie i King as he called himself, started milki ing as soon as he came to the farm. He was a quiet youth and knew his work. He said he had come originally from Russell and had worked at Tani ranga. He disclaimed relationship with | people named King whom Mr. Downs j said he knew when he was in North Auckland. He was given accommodation in a room behind the farm cottage with another employee, James Tocker. Assembling the Police The force that was assembled to search for Hona was one of the largest that has been assigned to such an undertaking. First steps were taken by Detective A. J. Whyte and Constables H. A. Hay and P. Watts, of Hamilton, Constables W. Monson and Hinton, of Te Aroha, and Constable Holt, of Matamata. Two car loads of police under Senior-Sergeant J. J. Power were brought from Hamilton and Frankton. . Later, Inspector C. W. Lopdell, officer in charge of the Hamilton police district, who had been in Rotorua, arrived to take charge. Thi» police | searching the Rangitoto district were | also withdrawn to Tatuanui. At 2 j o'clock this morning. Inspector Lopi dell was advised by Superintendent Till I that 22 men from Auckland, nnder ; Sergeant Tocher, had been despatched, i I hey arrived at 7 a.m. All were armed