NO APPARENT MOTIVE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19622, 17 October 1933, Page 2

NO APPARENT MOTIVE

AUCKLAND MURDER POLICE WITHOUT A CLUE By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, October 16. Without any apparent motive the murder of James Hunter Blair, while he was seated at the wheel of his taxicab in King’s Road, Mount Roskill, in the early hours of Sunday morning, presents a puzzling problem. Information flooded into the central police station throughout the day, indicating the intense public concern and interest aroused over the extraordinary crime. Much of that divulged to the police had to do with men seen in the neighbourhood at varying times. consequence was that detectives and constables were given tremendous scope for inquiry. Great hope was held out by the investigation as a result of the examination of fingerprints on the vehicle. A remarkably thorough search was made and numbers of finger prints, especially on the doors of the car, were recorded. The car was also examined thoroughly for other possible clues. There were indications of bark in the back of the vehicle, suggesting that a piece of timber could have been employed as the lethal weapon. The bark, however, could easily have been In the cab for a considerable time. It has been found that death was due to two blows by a heavy, blunt instrument, which fractured the skull. Blair was a quiet, trustworthy man, highly esteemed by his colleagues In business. "He was white all through,” said a neighbour. Blair was not robbed, for £2 2s 9d was found in his possession although it is possible that his assailant was frightened by the extent of the injuries he inflicted and made off without looking for money. The inquest on Blair was opened today and adjourned sine die after evidence of identification by the proprietor of the taxi, who described Blair as a steady, reliable man.