MURDER VICTIM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23499, 13 May 1938, Page 8

MURDER VICTIM

MISSING REMAINS FOUND SUITCASE IN HARBOUR INJURIES TO HEAD REVEALED (Per United Press Association) BLENHEIM, May 12. In 40 feet of .water right off the outer end of Picton wharf a diver this afternoon recovered the missing remains of the victim of the suitcase murder, whose headless and legless trunk was discovered last Saturday. With the successful conclusion of another stage in the extensive police activity that has been sustained since the discovery a week ago, it will no doubt be possible to establish definitely the identity of the unfortunate man who came to such a grim end. An examination of the head recovered this afternoon disclosed that it bears marks indicating that it was battered with some blunt instrument. Whether these injuries were substantially the cause of death or inflicted afterwards, only a postmortem examination by a competent expert can prove. It is already believed to be a fact that one’or more of the stab wounds on the body in the region of the heart could have been fatal, and it is anticipated that Dr P. P. Lynch’s recent examination would have disclosed whether they were inflicted before or after death. Naturally the authorities are not revealing the results of' Dr Lynch’s examination until the proper time, but every importance will, attach to the opinion he forms regarding the head wounds, taken in conjunction with the chest stabs, in the direction of reconstructing the means by which the man, believed to be Edwin Armstrong, died. Suitcases Almost Identical The remains found to-day were contained in a dark brown fibre suitcase, identical in most respects, including the white cordage lashings, with the receptacle recovered six days ago. The diying operations were carried out by Mr T. K. Wineera, who was placed at the disposal of the Police Department by the Wellington Harbour Board. He arrived with his assistants and equipment on the Tamahine last night. Working from a punt moored at the end of the wharf the diver concentrated on the area of the harbour bottom where the detectives evidently decided that it was most likely the person who disposed of the packages would have thrown them over after disembarking from the Tamahine on Friday night. The diver searched fruitlessly for two hours "and a-half in the morning and was down for nearly two hours in the afternoon before he was rewarded with success. Preliminary Examination When the suitcase was hauled up by a line attached by the diver, the detectives soon satisfied themselves that it was the object that they had been seeking. The punt was then towed to the landing jetty and the remains removed to the morgue in a police car. A preliminary examination was subsequently made by Dr E. B. W. Smith, of Picton, who hau not yet reported to the police. The coroner will view the remains to-morrow and the inquest will be resumed at an early date at Picton, when evidence will be given by Dr Lynch.