MAN ARRESTED AFTER INDIAN HAWKER FOUND STABBED TO DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 April 1949, Page 6

MAN ARRESTED AFTER INDIAN HAWKER FOUND STABBED TO DEATH

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA). — An Indian hawker was stabbed to death in a dingy wash-house in the basement of a dwelling-house in Nelson Street shortly before 9.30 this morning. In response to a telephone call saying that “there was a row going on al a house in Nelson Street,” a police patrol investigated and found the body lying in a pool of blood on the floor of the wash-house. The victim was Govind Ranchhod, aged about 58, who also lived in Nelson Street.

The house was one of a group of dilapidated houses in a dip in the road below’ a long white fence, it has one storey fronting tne road, and there are lower-storey rooms at the back. The section fails away steeply and the small back yard is a tangled mass of weeds.

“I heard cries coming from next door,” said Walter Smith, who lived next door. “I went round to the back of the house and found the body in the wash-house. T here was a man standing in the doorway. He picked up an axe and threatened me with it and I ran upstairs out the front door. Then 1 locked the door and returned to my house.”

After the phone call had been received Constable Brannigan, with another constable, left in a police car and went to Nelson Street. On their arrival they found a number of

Maoris gatnered in front of the house. Constable Brannigan went to the wash-house where he found the body of the hawker lying on the floor. He examined the body of the Indian and found he was dead. Shortly afterwards more police arrived. Alter searching the house and questioning a number of persons the detectives returned to the police station with Smith, a Maori woman who had ocupied the house, and another man. They also took with them a butcher’s knife and a new-axe. They had found the knife behind the washhouse door.

The Indian’s body was lying on the floor not far from some empty bottles which he had called to collect. The body had been stabbed once through the chest and several times through the neck.

Outside the house the hawker’s two sons, aged 19 and 17, were standing talking to a group of relatives and friends. A pathetic sight was Ranchhod’s horse and cart standing outside his house a few doors along the road. The horse stood patiently for most of the morning waiting for its master. It was later taken back to its stable in an adjacent street.

During the morning the body of Ranchhod was examined by a pathologist and photographs were taken by a police photographer of both the body and the house.

A well-known figure in the city, Ranchhod came from India about 30 years ago. His two sons joined him in Auckland nearly two years ago. Ranchhod had a daughter living in India. His wife died some time ago.

Later in the day a man was arrested and charged with the murder of Ranchhod. He was William Ruha Matthews, aged 28, a Maori labourer, who is believed to live at Otahuhu. He will appear in the Police Court tomorrow morning.