FATE OF CHILD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 10

FATE OF CHILD

THE SEARCH FOR CLUES POLICE SEEK ASSISTANCE CYCLISTS AND LORRY-DRIVER [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] HASTINGS, Monday The murder of the little girl, Joan Rose Rattray, whoso body was found on the banks of the Karamu Creek, near Hastings, was committed almost 10 weeks ago now, but the police activity is unremitting in an endeavour to trace whoever was responsible. Intensive inquiries have been made by membeirs of tho police force especially assigned to the task, and hope of solving the mystery has by no means been abandoned At the present time detectives are anxiousi to got into communication with two cyclists and a lorry-driver who were travelling on tho road near the Karamu Bridge at about 3 p.m. on the afternoon of Tuesday. July 2. According to information tho detectives have obtained, tho two cyclists were halted 'on tho road halfway between tho bridgo and Mangaterctore corner, and were apparently travelling northward toward tho corner. Evidently the reason for their having stopped was that tho chain had come off ono of tho bicycles or some other mechanical trouble had occurred. Tho driver of the truck or lorry, which it is thought was a dark colour, was travelling in the same direction and stopped and spoke to tho two cyclists. Any of the three men could give useful information, and they are invited to communicate with tho police officers. t Some notion of the immense amount of inquiry work the detectives and police have had to do in connection with the murder may be gathered from the fact that in seeking to discover tho identity of the cyclists and the lorry-driver alone, they have made inquiries oir nearly 1200 owners and drivers of trucks and lorries.