Roadside Mystery Is Still Unsolved

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 664, 16 May 1929, Page 1

Roadside Mystery Is Still Unsolved

MURDER OR ACCIDENT? MANY PERSONS QUESTIONED (From Gsr Own Correspondent) OPOTIKI, Today' Further inquiries show the chances of Samuel McAleese having accidentally shot himself to be extremely remote. It seems hardly likely that he would toss the sack containing the rifle any distance. When it was found the sack was lying only about 18 inches from the shovel, which was leaning up against the bank. Although the bullet penetrated upwards at an angle, this was so slight that McAleese would have had to lean right over the sack to receive the shot. The bullet entered the chest at the left side of the heart, travelling through the body to the right side of the back. Although the rifle is not here to examine further, it is understood it was not; able to be cocked, unless fitted to the stock. The pea-rifle is a 1902 model Winchester single shot weapon .22 calibre, with a holt action barrel.

In the event of McAleese being accidentally shot when putting down the sack, he must have been leaning well down, as death was instantaneous. The body would have crumpled up over the spot where the sack was put down. WAS BODY MOVED?

There is no doubt whatever that the body at one time lay in the centre of the road, as two patches of blood were found there. It is quite likely that McAleese met his death while standing in the centre of the road. Owing to the precipitious nature of the hills at the spot, there is little likelihood that a quarrel took place in the nearby hush, and it seems quite certain that the body was removed from the centre of the road to the side, and while there the position was also altered, as the bloodstains seem to show that the body was reversed.’ When found the body was ly'ing outstretched with the arms at the side. It would be an absolute miracle for a man shot through the heart to move such a distance away from the rifle. INJURIES CAUSED BY BLOW When putting the sack on the ground McAlesse could hardly have damaged his lip and nose so badly. The injuries to the face were undoubtedly caused by a severe blow, and there was no sign of a stone or rock which the face could strike. Everything points to the fact that McAleese was shot by someone either accidentally or intentionally. The police have already interviewed dozens of people and every effort is being made to trace anyone likely to have been on the road, or who saw anyone using the road. BLOOD TESTS IN PROGRESS It is understood the inquest may not take place for some time as blood tests are being carried out, and the police are being greatly handicapped in their investigations, owing to there being no apparent motive for the crime. Inquiries this morning .as to the size of the sack show that the rifle was in an ordinary sugar-bag. It is not known whether the muzzle was at the top or the bottom of the bag, which shows no signs of singeing.