MURDER MYSTERY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 368, 9 March 1932, Page 5

MURDER MYSTERY.

Death of an Auckland Chemist. FRUITLESS INVESTIGATION. (Special to the " Star.”) AUCKLAND, March S. It is just over four months since the brutal murder of Mr Arthur James Blomfield, chemist, at his shop on the ground floor of the Pacific buildings about 5 o’clock on a busy Friday afternoon. So far the mystery is unsolved. Although no date has yet been fixed, it is expected that the inquest will be resumed within the next two weeks, when it is expected that some interesting evidence will be heard. The police were confronted with one of the most puzzling crimes, and with only the slenderest clues upon which to work. The crime was committed between 4.55 and 5 p.m. on Friday, October 30. Unfortunately, much valuable time, about 30min, was lost before the police were informed of the attack upon Mr Blomfield. It was about 5.5 p.m. when Mr Wheeler, manager of the pharmacy, returned to the shop and found Mr Blomfield. Naturally first attention was given to the injured man. This accounts for the loss of time before the police arrived. The assailant was lucky in that nothing of a struggle or the breaking of glass was heard by passers-by. At the time of the tragedy there were hundreds of persons in the vicinity of the shop, and it is not remarkable that nothing untoward was noticed. The assailant’s nerve after attacking the chemist was shown by the casual way he left the premises. The investigations following the murder were placed in capable hands and the detectives handling the case made a concentrated search for evidence, while inquiries in connection with the crime have been made all over the Dominion. Was Coulton Connected? It is the opinion of more than one police officer that Lawrence Oswald Coulton, who w ; as shot dead by Mr Youngs, manager of the Remuera branch of the Bank of Ne%v Zealand, on November 24, was connected in some way with the murder of Mr Blomfield. Among the articles found by the police when they searched Coulton’s room in Park Road, after his death, w r as a piece of iron about eighteen inches long and three-quarters of an inch thick. It is also known that a pair of trousers which Coulton had worn had a piece cut off the bottom of each leg.

The movements of Coultofiuaftcr the murder of,Mr Blomfield on Friday,

October 30. are regarded by the police as being highly important. According to Coulton’s own statements his movements were: Saturday, October 31. —Telephone message received from Mr for “Laurie” (Coulton) to go to Christchurch on Sunday night’s express. Sunday, November I.—Coulton left Auckland for Christchurch. Wednesday, November 4.—Left Christchurch for Wellington. Thursday, November 5. —Left Wellington for Hamilton. Motored to Papakura. Stayed the night with Mr . Friday. November 6.—Arrived home about 8.30 a.m. At the inquest upon Coulton Detective Sergeant Doyle’s evidence showed definitely that Coulton never went to Christchurch, but that he was in Devonport most of the time. However, the police will, of course, not attempt to “ solve ” the mystery by casting suspicion on a dead man. They will present all the evidence they have, and the Coroner will make the decision. It seems likely that only an inconclusive verdict will be returned.