MURDER OF A CHEMIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21600, 22 March 1932, Page 7

MURDER OF A CHEMIST

BRUTALLY BATTERED TO DEATH INQUEST ON BLOMFIELD CONCLUDED. (Peb United Peess Association.) AUCKLAND, March 21, The inquest was resumed this afternoon in connection with the death of Arthur James Blomfield, manager of Mackay’s Dispensary in Pacific Buildings, Wellesley street, who died in hospital five hours after he had been brutally battered about the head at the rear of the pharmacy about 6 p.m. on October 30 last. Before the first witness was called a solicitor rose and said he was representing Mr and Mrs Coulton, parents of the man who was shot by a bank officer at Remuera on November 24.

Sub-inspector Gibson: 1 don’t think anyone of that name will be mentioned. Counsel: I understand it is going to be put forward by the police that Coulton was,the murderer. The coroner: You understand wrongly. Counsel: That is according to the newspapers. Sub-inspector Gibson: Yes, according to the newspapers, but not according to the police. The evidence revealed few now facts. The deceased was found to have been fatally injured by 10 wounds on the head caused by repeated blows by a blunt instrument, no trace of which was found. The deceased had been left alone in the shop while, his assistants went for their evening meal. A customer saw a young man come from the back of the shop, and, after remarking: “He will be here any minute,” the young man left the shop. Later it was found that money had been taken from the shop till. Towards the close of the evidence counsel for Coulton’s parents asked: Can I take it as definite that the police are not going to blame Coulton for the murder? Statements suggesting that have been published in the newspapers, and apparently they came from the police. Sub-inspector Gibson: They did not come from the police.

No reference was made to Coulton in the evidence, at the conclusion of which the coroner stated: “ Very extensive inquiries have been made, but the evidence does not lead to any definite conclusion. That the wounds were wilfully inflicted there can be no doubt. I can only find that the deceased died in the Auckland Hospital from injuries as described in the medical evidence, the injuries being caused by repeated blows from some weapon.” He added that the evidence showed that the blows must have been inflicted by some person who entered the shop about 5 p.m. “ Other than that there is nothing more for me to say,” concluded the coroner.