POLICE THEORIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5656, 29 August 1896, Page 6

POLICE THEORIES.

Inspector Pender and Detectives Campbell and Neill, with a posse of constables, have been at Petone all day endeavouring to unravel the -mystery surrounding the murder. The police theory is that the. motive was undoubtedly robbery, and that tho perpetrator must have been aware that Thursday was the pay - day of the several factories in the district. Mr Jones, they say, was in the habit of remaining open a little later on Thursday evenings, and it is believed that the shop closed about 7.30. The aged couple had then retired to the kitchen, and were about to partake of a meal when they met with an untimely death. The only unlocked door which led into the shop and dwelling (combined) was the kitchen door, and through this an entrance was made upon them . That murder was not the uppermost intention is evident from the fact that an attempt was first made to affect the sight of Mr Jones by casting pepper in his face. Then, possibly, the murderer, seeing a chance of being obstructed in his plans, drew a knife, and, as the old gentleman was endeavouring to make his way through the sitting-room, which led into the shop, struck him from behind, and the victim died where he fell. Mrs Jones, it is thought, seeing the murderous attack on her husband, darted through the passage, which struck off at right angles from the room where her husband was killed, with the intention of giving the alarm, but unfortunately only reached as far as the door when she was overtaken by the murderer, who buried his knife deep into her right side. One of her hands was uplifted as if she had clung to the door handle until her life slowly ebbed away owing to hemorrhage. * Inspector Pender believes that the whole affair could have lasted only a minute or two. One of the neighbours' daughters whs over at the side door of Jones's place at nine o'clock, but there was no response to her knocking, and the Fleets, whose residence was about tan yards distant from that of deceased, state that they heard nothing unusual last night. There was a rumour in town to-night, however, that a noise was heard in Jones's about the time the murders are supposed to have taken place, and this is being investigated by the police. The medical gentlemen who examined the wounds express the opinion thatthe weapon used must have been a very strong one with a keen edge, as the cuts are very clean. Search has been made all day for traces of the missing cash -box, but without success. Shore, who is in custody, is a power-fully-built man, and has a wife and two children. When arrested he was at work on a stop-ban^ contract at Petone, and appeared to be in his usual spirits. Beyond the remark that he was in liquor on the previous night he made no statement, and while being conveyed to town this evening he chatted on general subjects, but made no reference to the charge on which he had been arrested. The police state that they have endeavoured to trace the movements of Shore last night, and that they have evidence that he was seen near the scene of the murder, but too much importance cannot be attached to this, as he lived near the Jones's. Inquiries confirm accused's statement that he was in liquor last evening, also the fact that one hotel had declined to serve him. When arrested no money was found on Shore. The prisoner will be charged to-morrow, but a remand will be asked.