PALMERSTON NORTH TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 32

PALMERSTON NORTH TRAGEDY

Th j following appeared in last week’s Second Edition:—

RAILWAY CLERK’S BODY FOUND

EVIDENCE OF MURDER. PALMERSTON N., August 25. The' police are now convinced that Edwin Blakeway, who was found dead on the Longburn-Karere road in the early morning of yesterday, was murdered. The post mortem revealed bullet wounds in the hand, wrist, chest, and head. It is believed that the shots were fired from either a repeating rifle or an automatic revolver. Five empty cartridge shells were found on the scene of the crime. At the time the crime was perpetrated the' deceased was cycling back to Palmerston North. Apparently he was hailed from the side of the road, had dismounted, gone back, and been shot. When the deceased left the house of a friend nearby he was wealing gloves. These were not on his hands when the body was found but were clasped underneath. The indications point to the fact that the deceased tried to prevent his assailant from shooting him, this account ing for the shots in the band and wrist. The deceased is believed to have had a roll of notes in his possession. These were not found on the body. Five bullet wounds were found on the body—two on one hand close together, another on the side of th? wrist of the other forearm, one through the chest, and one behind the bridge of rhe nose. It has been definitely established by the police that the deceased was shot from the side of the road by an assailant who apparently lay in wait. This is known from the direction from which some of the bullets entered the body. It has been fairly accurately determined that at least one was fired point blank from in front of deceased.

When found the body was lying face downward, with the head facing the direction in which he was proceeding. The body was stretched straight out with the exception of the neck, which was hunched close to the shoulders, indicating apparently that, aftei being shot, deceased was dragged, or probably lifted under the arms, to the place where he was found. A significant feature is the discovery of five empty cartridges at the scene of the crime. Four were picked up alongside the cycle, which was six yards distant from the body. The bullet punctures in the body are from a gun of small calibre and are believed to have been fired from an automatic revolver or s high-powered repeating rifle.

None of the occupants of Mr R. Tanner’s house, 15 chains away, heard the sound of shots, but Miss Tanner, on retiring at 11.15 p.m., heard two sounds like long-drawn-out groans. These were attributed to stock on the farm. The deceased arrived here from Otaki a fortnight ago, on relieving duty as a railway booking clerk. He had an exceedingly happy personality and was very popular with his fellow employees. Otaki people describe him as a man ■who would never make enemies, and greatly in favour among his circle of friends. The deceased is reported to have been in the habit of carrying money, and is known to have taken it with him when he left for Karere on Sunday evening, but when the body was found only Is 9d was in his clothes. PAHIATUA, August 25. Blakeway was well known and popular in Hukanui, where he was acting stationmaster for a time. He was a keen amateur track cyclist, Rugby player, lawn tennis player, and miniature rifle shot.