NO KNOWN MOTIVE FOR WHAKATANE MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 February 1949, Page 6

NO KNOWN MOTIVE FOR WHAKATANE MURDER

Police Search Fruitless

AUCKLAND, Last Night <PA>.— Efforts to find the origin of mysterious early-morning reports, resembling those of a firearm, were among the hundred-and-one duties undertaken by the police today as part of their inquiries into the murder, near Whakatane last Monday night, of Mr. John Kehoe, aged 24, traffic inspector. The absence of any known motive for Mr. Kehoe’s murder is one of the puzzling features of the case. Police activity is still concentrated in and around Whakatane, but late tonight a most thorough sifting of all information had failed to reveal the murderer’s movement or hiding place

Following a report that a man who resembled a photograph of Richard McGill, who is missing, had spoken to a woman in a Maori settlement at Panmure, a search of the area by about a dozen police officers was made later in the day When the search had proved fruitless, the number of officers was reduced to three.

A general lookout for the missing man is being kept by police in the city, and officers are stationed at many important points. All reports that McGill has been seen are investigated. but many of them are clearly of little value.