ARUNDEL MURDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22833, 14 September 1937, Page 8

ARUNDEL MURDER

SEARCH FOR WEAPON POLICE INVESTIGATIONS RESULT OF POST-MORTEM SKULL NOT FRACTURED [by telegraph—owx correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday The police are still searching for the ■weapon with which Mr. William Gaby, the 73-year-old Arundel storekeeper, was killed on Friday night. Interviews and many other lines of inquiry are keeping the police officers busy. Police from Temuka and Timaru, with Inspector T. Slianaban in charge, were busy this morning at Mr. Gaby's small home at the south end of the Rangitata Bridge. A close search for the weapon was being made on the land surrounding the cottage. A police party from Christchurch headed by Superintendent A. Cameron has arrived, and includes DetectiveSergeant J. Bickerdike and Detective A. A. Herron and Constable J. B. Kearton, photographer and finger-print expert. Inspector Shanahan, with DetectiveSergeant Thomas and Detective N Kempt, who were engaged in investigations on Saturday, are still at Arundel and are now being assisted by Senior-Sergeant D. J. Hewitt, also of Timaru, Constable ~D, Callanan, of Geraldine, and several other constables. Extensive Inquiries The scope of the extensive police inquiries extends from Christchurch to Dunedin. The movements of travellers are being investigated and a careful search is being made embracing everyone who is known to have called at Mr. Gaby's store on the day and night of Friday. As fnr as is known the last person to see him alive came to his door at 8 p.m. on that day. The nature of the wound suggests that Mr. Gaby was struck with a heavy blunt weapon, but of a type that is not yet known. He was severely battered about the forehead, but when a post-mortem examination was made at Timaru during the week-end by Dr. E. Thomson, assistant-pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, it was found that the skull had not been fractured. Residents Join in Search

Residents,' as well as the police, have taken part in the search under the control of Sergeant' M. E. Hill of Temuka. They had an almost impossible task, for the somewhat rough gorsc-covercd country would make it easy to hide a weapon, and the river would also present an easy means of disposing of it. Owing to lack of accommodation for boarding the visiting police at Arundel, rooms were secured for them last night in Geraldine, where it is understood Superintendent Cameron will stay during the inquiries. DEVELOPMENTS ADMITTED POLICE VISIT CHRISTCHUKCH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHKISTCHURCH, Monday Important developments have taken place in the search for the murderer of Mr. William Gaby. Police officials admitted this evening that the case had developed, but to give any details at present would seriously prejudice a successful issue, they said. What the nature of these developments is cannot be ascertained as yet, but the two Timaru detectives who first acted in the case came to Christchurch this evening. Constable D. Callanan, of Geraldine, who was called to the scene when the body was discovered, and Mr. A. G. Bryant, an uncle of the dead man, also left Geraldine for Christchurch lato this evening.