ALLEGED TRAIN MURDER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18867, 19 November 1935, Page 5

ALLEGED TRAIN MURDER

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST STATEMENT BY YOUTH SYDNEY, Nov. 18. An inquest into the death of Mr. Montague Henwood, Conciliation Commissioner, was opened at Penrith. Edwin John Rickey, aged 17, who had been charged with murder, was present in custody during the inquest, which was adjourned till to-morrow. Detective Wilks said that Hickey had admitted depositing at a railway cloakroom a suitcase which Hickey had said "belonged to the old chap who was in the train with me." Detective Wilks added that when Hickey's attention was drawn to bloodstains in the railway • carriage, he said : "That would probably come from the old fellow.' I gave him three or fouthits with a diottle."

On November 4 the body of Mr. Montague Henwood, State Conciliation Com-., missioner, aged 65, was found alongside the railway line near Faulcon.bridge, 51 miles west of Sydney. One side of Mr. Kenwood's head was shockingly injured, his vest pockets were turned inside out, but His gold watch and chain were untouched. His hat and baggage were missing. Detectives were at first doubtful a& to the circumstances surrounding Mr. Henwood's death. The possibility that he became ill and fell from the over-night train from Bathurst, on which he was a passenger, was considered. Later the police became convinced that Mr. Henwood was murdered, as bloodstains were discovered in the , carriage he occupied, and also evidence that he was dragged 20yds. alongside the railway track. The police set to locate a young man about 25 years of age, who joined the same train at Bathurst and was believed to have travelled in Mr. Henwood's company. As the result of this line of'inquiry Edwin John Hickey, described as a dairy hand, was arrested on November 5 and on the following day was charged with the murder of Mr. Henwood.