NO NEW CLUES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16949, 13 May 1929, Page 7

NO NEW CLUES

PAPAMOA HILL TRAGEDY DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS FOUR DETECTIVES ENGAGED NO MOTIVE. DISCLOSED (Special to the Herald.) OPOTIKI, this day. Rumors that a man on horseback had passed over the Motu-Opotiki highway at about the presumed hour of the death of Samuel McAleese, the young roadman whose body was found on Thursday on the Papamoa hill, aroused new interest yesterday in the investigations following upon the conclusion that McAleese had been foully murdered. It was stated that the identity of the horseman had been ascertained, and that the police were anticipating developments from an interview with him. Inquiries made to-day indicate that there was no foundation for the expectation of developments in connection with the horseman. The police, under Inspector O’llalloran, have been able to determine that at the time of the murder, the lone traveller was some distance from the scene of McAleese’s death. His movements were naturally of interest to the police, as were those of any other person known to be on the road at any time during Thursday, but it is now known that the horseman passed over the route in a direction which led him away from the scene of the crime, and that he exchanged greetings with McAleese, La'ppin, and Makarini during the morning. At the presumed time of the murder, he was separated from McAleese by a considerable distance, with the other two roadmen between him and McAleese. Thus another line of inquiry which at first glance seemed to promise important evidence has been disposed of without profit, apparently, to the investigation.

/ Detective McLeod, assisted by Detective Knight, who arrived from Auckland yesterday, are to-day concentrating inquiries m the direction of learn-, ing oft every person who was on the! road anywhere near the time of thr| tragedy. Already dozens of people liavq been interviewed, but it was stated at» midday to-day that little progress had yet been made towards clearing upj the mystery. That the police officials realise the difficult task with which they are confronted is indicated by tho fact that a call has been made for further reinforcements, and to-day Detective White, of Hamilton, and Detective Walsh, of Wanganui, also reached Opotiki to assist in the investigations.

EXHIBITS SENT TO AUCKLAND

Inspector O’Hallorau, of Gisborne, who is m charge ox operations, leit yesterday morning lor ilotorua, taxing wuu him exhibits winch, once in tlie lianas ol experts, are regarded as being nxe.y to furnish any dues to the perpetrator of the crime. Great care was taken tu protect the rifie with which it is presumed the shot was fired, and any oilier articles which are considered finely tu Line any linger prints on tliein. The exhibits aie to be examined in Auckland to-day, and an immediate report on the results will be forwarded to inspector (J'Hallorau. One of the features of the case which is greatly handicapping the ponce m the securing entire absence 01 motive. McAleese was a single man with no relatives m New Zealand. For 2£ years he had been working in different pans of the district, anu everyone with whom he worked speaks in tho highest terms of liiui. He was quiet and good-natured, and so far as has been learned there was no one who bore him the slightest! grudge. On the contrary, he was extremely well liked by all with whom he came in contact. Robbery as a motive is ruled out from the mere fact! that no one would suspect a roadman of being possessed of any large sum o£ money or valuables. As a matter of fact, McAleese had only been on this job for three weeks, arid had not been paid, while what little money he possessed was lodged in the Post Office {Savings Bank. The actual scene of the murder is between two of the many bends on the Papamoa hill, about a mile from tho top of the hill on the Toatoa side, thq spot being well hidden from other sections of the road. Tire actual distance from Opotiki is 26 miles. McAleese's hut was about a quarter of a imlei nearer Motu than, where his body was found, while Lappin lived at the top of the hill, and Makarini lived near the Whitikau junction, on the Motu side of the hill.