DEATH OF CHEMIST

Southland Times, Issue 21659, 22 March 1932, Page 8

DEATH OF CHEMIST

HEAD INJURIES INQUEST ON A. J. BLOMFIELD NO FRESH EVIDENCE (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, March 21. The inquest was resumed this afternoon in connection with the death of Arthur James Blomfield, manager of Mac Kay’s dispensary, Pacific Buildings, Wellesley Street, who died in hospital live hours after he had been brutally battered about the head in the rear of the pharmacy about 5 p.m. on October 3d 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 the bank officer at Remuera on November 24. Senior Inspector Gibson: I 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 the police. The evidence revealed few new facts. Deceased was found to have been fatally injured by 16 wounds on the head caused by repeated blows by a blunt instrument, no trace of which was found. 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 money had been taken from the shdp till. Toward 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: “Verv 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 deceased died in 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 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.