IS HUDSON ALIVE?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17525, 30 April 1925, Page 13

IS HUDSON ALIVE?

TALE OF BEDRAGGLED YOUTH'S DOINGS. WAIMATE FARM VISITED. «ANOTHER FOGGY MORNING.” (Special to the “ Star.”) WAIMATE, Apm 29. Is Philip Hudson, wanted on a charge of the murder of Olive Rutherford, still alive? The police still are searching the Waitaki River, but a story told by a lady in reference to a visit paid to her residence, which is situated about a mile from Waimate, by a strange young man made her curious as to whether her visitor was not the missing man. She states that about seven o’clock on Friday morning a young man who looked about twenty called at her house and requested something to eat and drink. His wants were supplied, but the food was left uneaten, although he drank the tea. He gave as a reason for not consuming the food that he had been badly knocked about and had been sleeping out. A further • remark which leads to the supposition that he might be the missing man was a statement that he had come from Kurow. The stranger was about five feet six r inches in height, of sallow complexion and with a prominent nose. He wore ! a light fawn sports coat with belt, fawn gabardine trousers, a rather shabby : hat and a jazz handkerchief round his ■ neck. On his nose and both cheeks were freshlv-made cuts, on which blood i had congealed. ! He appeared very nervous, having his hat pulled well down over his face. When he accepted a cup of tea he trem- ; bled violently, giving the impression i of having been on a drinking bout. He i did not resemble a swagger. Before i leaving he inquired the direction of the , main road. What belongings he cari ried were wrapped in what was thought 5 tq be a sugar or cement bag, folded ? lengthwise. This would be large enough i to cover a Winchester rifle, it this ; .should happen to be the wanted Colour is leant to this belief by a remark passed by him: “It’s going to t be another foggy morning.” This re--1 mark is all the more significant because on the morning in question there was : no sign of fog, the day being bright and clear, while on the morning of the mysterious affair there was a fog at [ Kurow. Further support is given to i the theory that the man was Hudson because he must have travelled to the ■ house across paddocks. A boy who arrived at the house shortly after the , stranger had not observed him on the . road, which runs straight past the . house. Pip. Press Association. > OAMARU, April 29. > No trace has yet been found of Philip Hudson, who is wanted on a charge of the murdering of Olive Rutherford at Wharelcuri last week.