MURDER QUEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 12

MURDER QUEST

CRIME IN THE NORTH ACTIVITY OF POLICE SKAROM FOR CARTRIDOK COVKRING WIDK ARKA [I'HOM OUR OWN COHIIKSI'ON DKN'T ] KAIKOHG, Frklny Twelve police officers continued thorough investigations to-dav into tho murder of Mr. lOrnest Severin Nelson, aged 55, a well-known North Auckland fanner, who was found shot on a lonely drive leading to his residence at Waihou Valley, about two miles from Okaihau, on Tuesday night. Tho affair has proved more baffling than was at first anticipated, and remained shrouded in mystery to-night, no arrest having been made. Detective-Sergeant J Walsh, Detective W. IT Slater, and Constables J. Quinn and Kims arrived from Auckland to-day, and the entire police operations were carried out under the personal supervision of Inspector T. .T. O'Hara, of Whangarei. A search was concentrated on finding the cartridge or gun used in the shooting, but all efforts were unrewarded. Neighbours and a number of natives were ques-

! tioned, and it is understood that careful inquiries were made concerning all guns held by residents of the district. Kvery shotgun in the locality is said to have been collected, while it is further reported that Nelson recently had his own gun repaired at Okaihau. Residence Under Observation Unauthorised persons were prohibited from passing the entrance to Nelson's property, where the drive leading from tho front gate where the deceased obtained his mail, for a distance of about 150 yards, was exhaustively combed by Senior-Sergeant E. Finch and Constable F. Davis. All the long grass on both sides of tho drive, near tho spot where the body was found, was raked and cut, and tho drains were cleaned out by these officers, but there was no trace of the missing cartridge. The Nelson residence is being kept under close and continuous observation by Constable F. L. Ryan, and Constable Elms guards the gate to the main road. Strenuous Work and Slow Field work was extended in the direction of tho Pangiahtia Maori settlement, situated some six miles from the scene of the crime. The surrounding hills are densely bush-clad, and the broken nature of the country is such that the murderer might have had no difficulty in concealing both cartridge and gun. To penetrate this territory the police force, headed by Inspector O'Hara and Detective Murch, was required to commission drays, horses, motor-cars and boats. Inspector O'Hara told the Herald correspondent that the police operations had been strenuous rind necessarily slow. A very large area, covering miles in extent, might yet have to be searched. He said that the police had investigated a statement that the Royal mail carrier had seen two persons, one of whom was Mr. Nelson, conversing at his gate on the night of the murder, but no undue importance •was attached to it.

Reinforcements Arrive The polict- compared the results of their day's work at their hotel to-night, when their complement was increased to 15 with the arrival of Constables .1. Cassill, N Petersen and Yasta, from Auckland Investigation will resume to-morrow morning, when the scojh! will be further extended. The police will be assisted by Mr. Wilson Marsh, a native who is most familiar with the district, and dry conditions and low creeks should favour the work in hand.