SENSATIONAL TURN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 109, 11 May 1938, Page 7

SENSATIONAL TURN

PICTON MURDER CASE VICTIM’S SON ARRESTED MET BY DETECTIVES AT AUCKLAND I Per Prase Awoeiatlaa.] AUCKLAND, May 10. There was a sensational turn in the Pictor, murder this morning when Douglas Alexander Armstrong, son of the nurdered man. was arrested as he stepped off the Limited express at 9.30 o’clock and was immediately charged with the murder of his father. The arrest was made by Detective Turgiss and Acting-Detectives Cromwell and Grace. All means of transport in New Zea* land—train, road, air, and shipipng—have been under close scrutiny since the discovery of the brutal murder. A full description of the arrested youth, Douglas Alexander Armstrong, had been circulated to all police stations, and it was in the course of routine investigations that detectives identified the wanted youth this morning. The arrested youth, who is described as an apprentice engineer, is 20 years of age, tall and slim, and has fair hair. COMMISSIONER’S COMMENT SMART WORK M Al ( KLAM) POLICE [ Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 10. Douglas Alexander Armstrong, aged about 20, employed by the Railway! Department, was arrested at Auckland this morning and charged witr the murder of his father, Edwin Armstrong, of Wellington, on May 16. It is understood that he will be returned by the Limited to Wellington tonight. As the result of inquiries made yesterday a warrant was obtained for his arrest, and he was apprehended on the arrival of the Limited at. Auckland this morning by detectives from the Auckland station. “It was very smart work on the part of the Auckland police,’’ commented the Commissioner of Police. Mr D. J. Cummings, this morning. It is believed that accused boarded the Limited last night at a station north of Wellington. POLICE DRAG-NET OVER NEW ZEALAND [ Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 10. Later information showed that this morning’s train carried more passengers than usual, and all were closely scrutinised by police officers. With only the circulated description as the guide, detectives were able to select the youth from scores of young men who alighted from the train. The next step was to establish identity by means of questions. He was then arrested and formally charged with the murder of his father. No difficulty was experienced in the actual arrest, and when the charge was read over to him, Armstrong made no comment. He was then brought to the police station by three detectives to be held in custody until the Court sitting this afternoon. For several days a police drag-net was cast over the whole of New Zealand, in the course of which thousands of people have been scrutinised. The arrested youth had no luggage on his arrival. He was dressed in a dark blue suit and had a sum of money in his possession. No train o. steamer ticket was found in h pocket. Remanded to Wellington Armstrong appeared in the Police Court this afternoon and was remanded to appear in Wellington at 10 o’clock to-morrow morning. RETURN TO WELLINGTON ARRESTED MAN LEAVES WITH DETECTIVES [ Ftp Pres, AMocialion.) AUCKLAND, May 10. Very few persons at the Auckland railway station to-night noticed the arrival of Douglas Armstrong and his police escort when he boarded the Limited Express in order to be brought before the Wellington Magistrate’s Court to-morrow. None of the other passengers in hi.s carriage seemed to be aware of his identity. Armstrong was taken to the station in an ordinary touring-car and t< avoid as much notice being taken ol his arrival as possible he was driven round to the mail platform near the Limited's departure platform. Before being escorted to a seat on the train he was handcuffed to Acting-Detec-tive E. M. Grace, with Detective W. E. Turgis also in attendance, and little notice was taken of him as he walked composedly up the platform between the detectives. A light raincoat thrown over the handcuffs formed an effective concealment of Armstrong's captivity and he and Detective Grace merely seemed to be assisting each other to carry some luggage. The prisoner was wearing a collar and tie, this being the only difference from his appearing in the Magistrate's Court in the afternoon. He had no personal luggage. Three seats near the back of a second-class carriage, "B," the second car from the engine, had been reserved for the party.