MISSING TAXI-DRIVER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 64, 18 March 1943, Page 4

MISSING TAXI-DRIVER

BODY FOUND BURNING IN DISUSED PIT

(P.A.) Christchurch, March 17. The body of a woman, identified as that of Mrs. Wilhelmina Webster, was discovered late this afternoon on a private property near Ashburton. The body was badly charred. An expert pathological examination was begun immediately, and the surrounding area was subjected to careful scrutiny. The discovery followed an appeal by Police Superintendent Shanahan to residents of the area within ten miles of Ashburton to search all possible hiding places for the body of Mrs. Webster.

The body was discovered burning in an old disused pit at the back of a private residence in Tinwald this afternoon.

A young single man, aged about 20, who resides at Tinwald, was arrested by the police at Ashburton later in the afternoon and was detained at the Ashburton police station.

A fire in a disused pit with a wooden cover at the back of a house in Tinwald aroused the suspicion of a neighbour because of the unusual smell. Investigation was made about 3 p.m. by Mr. P. Drummond, who uncovered the pit and saw a burning human body. He informed the Ashburton police. The body was identified as that of Mrs. Webster. All the clothing had been burned from it, and it was charred almost beyond recognition, but portion of the white dust coat which she was wearing at the time of her disappearance, it was found, could be identified. • Despite a day-long search by over 300 police, soldiers, airmen and civilians, no trace had been found yesterday of Mrs. Wilhelmina Webster, aged 36, a taxi-driver employed by Mid-Canterbury Transport, Ltd.

Her taxi was found abandoned on Laghmor Road, about 14 miles from Tinwald. There were extensive blood stains on the front seat, on the back seat and on the running board. A lower set of artificial teeth, a broken lemonade bottle with the cap on and a dented electric torch were also found on the back seat. Mrs. Webster was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Wright, of Ashburton. With planes assisting, the search was one of the most comprehensive in the history of the police in Canterbury.