Most Fiendish

NZ Truth, Issue 1306, 22 December 1930, Page 5

Most Fiendish

which has thrown the investigators back upon ground already covered. In a well-lighted street, within earshot of a dozen houses, and at a spot which might have been under the observation of. passers-by at any moment, there was committed murder m the most fiendish' form. Less than half an hour later, the fact that there has been a murder becomes known. It is. just as Ahough some being had materialised from space, struck its death-dealing blows, and then vanished into thin air again. About such a thing as this there is something strangely terrifying. An eeriness, almost a ghostliness, invests the whole affair. And as the days go on, and the murderer remains at large, the feeling of uneasiness grows apace. There can be amigined a kind of horrible Presence dominating the city. There is some person abroad with blood upon his hands, and the knowledge m his mind that he has killed — and killed m a fashion unprecedented m its' savagery. And there is a question on every tongue ... If there be no purely personal reason for this wilful murder, if it be one which has been inspired by a dominating lust to shed blood, to inflict pain, to inflict the most awful injuries, is womanhood safe m Melbourne? While ever, the mystery of the Elwood murder remains unsolved, while still the slayer of little Mena Griffiths remains at large, that question must be answered m the negative. For this, the system which has cut the police force of Victoria down to limits where complete .efficiency is impossible must be held to »blame. Melbourne is shockingly under-policed. There are suburbs where the sight of a policeman no duty, unless Tie is serving summonses or jury notifica-