MYSTERY UNSOLVED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21362, 3 June 1939, Page 8

MYSTERY UNSOLVED

DISCOVERY of severed foot By Telegraph—Press Association HASTINGS, June 2. Indicating the exhaustive nature of investigations being carried out by the Napier detective office in an endeavour to find some clue to the mystery surrounding the discovery of a severed foot at Westshore early this week, it was to-day definitely established that repairs to the boot found on the foot were not undertaken in Napier. It was learned that the make of the rubber half of the sole is not available in the district, and it was stated by Detective-Sergeant H. Nuttall to-night that the sock covering the foot was cut down, and was a woman’s stocking. As far as it was possible to judge the foot was that of a male, although it was not improbable that the period in the water would swell a large woman’s foot to fit a size 8 or 9 man’s boot. According to the detective there were certain features about the foot which might suggest that it had been torn from the remainder of the leg by the action of the propeller on a large ship. This was one of the theories to which the police must give attention. A systematic check up was being made on all the known vagrants in the province, while reports of missing persons from other centres might give the police their desired lead. One person had already inquired at the Napier police station for permission to inspect the boot, but was unable to identify the article, or give the police any useful information. The gruesome discovery has, in the meantime, been placed in a special preparation for preservation.