MAN FOUND SHOT DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1930, Page 9

MAN FOUND SHOT DEAD

FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED

BODY LYING ON ROADSIDE

SEARCH BY CANTERBURY POLICE.

TWO MEN SEEN IN THE LOCALITY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Chris tehurch, Sept. 4. Dead from a gunshot wound) a farm labourer, Robert Allen Cockburn, aged 23, employed at Murchison’s sheep station, near Hororata, whs found by the roadside yesterday afternoon four miles from Lake Coleridge. The police believe that Cockburn's death is due to murder. He was found on the road fully dressed with a bullet wound in the chest. No weapon was found. A search is now being made for a possible witness of the tragedy. An official statement by the police says: “At present foul play is suspected. The whereabouts of two swagmen seen in the vicinity about that time is being sought. The first is said to be from 50 to 60 years of age and six feet high. The second is a man about GO, about sft'Sin high.” In addition to a squad of police and detectives who left for the scene last night considerable reinforcements went out this morning. Detectives are investigating the crime. It is understood that they have a description of a wanted man, who is said to be armed with a rifle and revolver.

The motive for the crime appears to have been the theft of food. Immediately prior tt> the tragedy Cockburn was driving a tractor on a block of land adjoining the road. He had placed his lunch near his work, but later discovered it had been stolen. Given a lift in a lorry he overtook and accosted two men, wholn he is said to have charged with having stolen his lunch. Nothing is definitely known as to what occurred, except that Cockburn was killed by being shot, apparently at very close range, a quarter of an hour later. Mr. F. W. Laugbein, district Public Works engineer, found 'Coekburn dead at this spot. Tlie men whom Cockburn accosted are stated to have .been seen earlier in the day by a station owner, John Murchison, who has furnished their description to the police.

DETECTIVES ARREST TWO MEN. CHARGE OF MURDER FOLLOWS. Christchurch, Last Night. Alfred James Saudiford Colenso, aged about 30, will be charged in the Magistrate’s Court to-morrow morning with the murder of Robert Allen Cockburn. Arthur Edward Farquharson, an older man, is also in custody, but . what charge will be laid against him is not known. It will be alleged that Colenso and Farquharson are identical with the two swaggers with whom Cockburn was talking when he was last seen alive. Colenso when arrested had a rifle in his Swag. They were attested late this afternoon near Cass by Detective-Ser-o-eant Young and a party of detectives. Uockburn’s body was found lying across the wheel tracks on a narrow road. In his hand was a pipe freshly filled and on the ground lay an opened matchbox. Nearby were charred sticks of a .fire used tb boil the billy. Cockburn was shot through the left lung, the bullet penetrating to nqar the spine.