SUITCASE MURDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23033, 10 May 1938, Page 10

SUITCASE MURDER

CLOTHES RECOGNISED IDENTITY OF VICTIM CORONER NOT SATISFIED POLICE PURSUE INQUIRIES [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PICTON, Monday The main development of the day in connection with the suitcase murder, as far as the investigations of the police nt Picton are concerned, was the inquest opened this evening after the arrival on the Tamahine from Wellington of William Aitken Armstrong, aged 19, a student. Ho was met on the wharf by Detective-Sergeants W. McLennan and W. R. Murray and Detective F. Hayhurst and was taken immediately to the Courthouse, where the clothing found on the body had been packed, and he had no hesitation in identifying the clothing as belonging to his father. A statement was taken by Mr. McLennan, and waa later read out to Mr. Armstrong, jun., who was pale but composed, by the coroner. Finding of Suitcase "My father stayed at my home until Friday, May 6," he said. "I last saw him on Friday morning at home. I went to work at 8.15 a.m., leaving my father and mother in the house. I have not seen my father since I left home on that day. I have been shown a brown suit, and I can identify it as the one my father wore." Alexander Gillies, able seaman, of the Pakeha, ip a statement, described the finding of the suitcase, saying that when engaged with able seaman McKenzie in painting the starboard side of the ship he saw a suitcase resting on one of the lower wharf beams. McKenzie went down and examined it and appeared to move the case to a more secure position, when he called out. Examination To-morrow The bosun then called the captain and the first mate and the order was given that nothing shcyild be touched until the police arrived. When the case was being hauled to the wharf witness saw a man's hand sticking out. The case was later removed by the police. Although comment was made by the coroner that the evidence of identification was not fully complete, a warrant for burial was issued, but this will not take place until after a post mortem examination, which will probably be conducted by Dr. Lynch, Government pathologist, to-morrow. Dr. Lynch, it is understood, has been delayed at Dunedin through a sitting of the Supreme Court, and is not now expected to arrive until to-morrow's air liner. Search for Unnamed Person The police at Picton to-day were mainly occupied in sifting statements, of which a large number have been taken, and this afternoon various exhibits which were hung out in the courtroom to dry were removed and packed. Detective-Sergeant Murray and Detective Hayhurst spent se\ r eral hours in Blenheim this afternoon making inquiries, which are understood to concern the possibility of an unnamed person either staying in the town recently, or who passed through on the way south. All the detectives, however, are at Picton to-night, with the addition of Detective-Sergeant Herron and Detective Thompson, of Christchurch, who arrived on a service car this evening. No Further Discovery Inspector Lewin, of Nelson, who is in charge of the Picton inquiries, informed the press that he had received a definite instruction from the Commissioner of Police to release no further information in the meantime. It has been ascertained, however, that no arrest has been made, and the missing head and legs have not been discovered. So far no attempt has been made to undertake diving at Picton Wharf in case tho missing remains were thrown into the harbour, but yesterday afternoon detectives subjected the liner Pakeha to a close search and also rowed around the wharf in a dinghy.