BURWOOD MURDER

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17133, 21 June 1927, Page 7

BURWOOD MURDER

A NEW THEORY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The only fresh developments in connection with the Burwood murder which are likely to throw light on the mystery are that some of tiic victim’s movements after leaving the Federal Hotel have been accountd for. Shortly after her final departure from the hotel on Tuesday evening Miss Scarff visited a friend of the family not far from her father’s home and to this friend she explained her relationship with a married man and stated she was greatly worried. Apparently her intention was to confide in tier mother, hut at the last moment her nerve failed her and she returned to the city. Miss Scarff’s bank book, which was found in one of the two trunks left at the luggage office in tiie Cathedral Square tram shelter, showed that up to Within a few days of her death she had £l7 on deposit, but tiie amount was withdrawn in sums of £l4 and £3.

The scene of the Burwood murder was in full view of two telegraph linesmen working on poles during practically the whole of Tuesday morning. This, combined with the fhet that the nearest neighbour heard no screams, is fairly conclusive evidence that the murder did not take piace in daylight. Owing to rigor mortis not having set In when the body was found, it was* assumed the girl had been done to death an hour or two before the discovery of the body. The possibility is that the girl was left by her assailant not dead but dying, and Fiat death occurred some time after tno attack. Tiie police, it is understood, are working on this theory. DETECTIVES SEEKING LABOURER. CHRISTCHURCH; Tuesday.

Detectives arc seeking a labourer who is known to have been a friend of tiie girl, and who has been missing since the day.of the tragedy. They are concentrating In the direction of learning the man’s whereabouts. He is of short, stocky build, and Is a foreigner.