SEARCH FOR MURDERER

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1931, Page 11

SEARCH FOR MURDERER

JEALOUSY MOTIVE EXAMINED DIFFERENCE IN BULLET MARKING POSSIBILITY OF THEFT EXPLORED VICTIM LEFT CYCLE BEFORE SHOT (By Wire—Special to Daily News.) Palmerston N., Last Night. No arrest has yet been made in connection with the shooting of Edwin Blakeway near here yesterday. Latest developments definitely point to the fact that Blakeway dismounted from his bicycle and placed it carefully down before walking towards his attacker. The latter fired four shots from the roadside, in the: course oi which Blakeway removed his cycling, gloves, presumably in order, to grapple with his -. assailant. A fifth shot was fired at point blank range. One bullet passed through the inside corner of Blakeway’s right eye, one squarely through his ’chest high up, two through the back of .is right hand one one through the left wrist. Five empt_ shells of small arm calibre were found beside the front wheel of the bicycle, which was exactly ®x yards from the body when Blakeway was found face downwards with his right hand pressing the gloves to his heart apd his left hand shielding the wound in his eye. The newest turn in to-day’s developments is the working up by detectives of the jealousy_motive. Late last night a,young resident of a. nearby settlement was brought to the police headquarters, relieved of. a pea-riffe and bullets and subjected to a severe grilling. He was faced with damaging statements concerning his .'-sire for the .removal from this world of Blakeway. The suspect nevertheless was able to furnish, a sufficiently strong alibi to compel his release.

The police probe really .broke down over a discrepancy in the markings of the ejected. cartridge shells. The bullets fired from the murderer’s weapon were ejected squarely from the centre of the firing point, whereas bullets fired from the suspect’s rifle revealed, a different ’shell marking. , It is now known the detectives are turning more actively to the robbery motive, but lack what they call positive proof, the presence of money on Blakeway when he was shot. On the other hr id is the positive affirmation of Blak-'way’s landlady that he carried £3O on his last ride on his model racing bicycle. , Th body is being removed to Christchurch for burial. Blakeway’s parents reside at Riccarton. The date of the inquest has not been decided.