TRAFFIC INSPECTOR SHOT DEAD

Chronicle (Levin), 1 February 1949, Page 5

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR SHOT DEAD

Press Ass;bciation)

Man Who- Went To His Aid Woauded Armed Search For |9«| Assailai?A

(Per

AUCKLAND, February 1. A traffic inspector, member of a \yeIl-known Levin family, was sfiot dead and another man wounded iii a- s.hooting affray wbicb oecurred on the main W^hakatane^T auranga road, five. miles from Whakatane, about mne o'clock last night. The victim, who was, shct dead, was: John Kehoe, aged 25, trafhe inspector, of Whakatane. The man wounded was: Arthur Wiggins, farmer, of Whakatane.. He was admitted to W^hakatane Hospital, where his condition is reported as not serious. Armed and uniformed police and detectives from Rotorua, Auckland and elsewhere are joining in a large-scale manhunt for the assailant. It is believed in Auckland that Inspector Kehoe was shot after he had chased and caught up with a young motor-cyclist. Hearing the noise of the shooting, which oecurred outside his home, Wiggins went out to investigate. As he reached the road he was shot at by a young man on a motor-cycle. The bullet struck his chest and left arai, causing superhcial wounds. The assailant is said to have dropped his motor-cycle and run away. -

' Inspector Kehoe was the only son^ of MYs. and the late Traffic Inspector M. Kehoe, of Leyin. He .was born at Upper Hutt and was a quiet, clean-living young man. He joined the Navy in World War II and. saw considerable service in the Atlantic. On his discharge from the Navy, Mr. Kehoe joined the Transport Department in Wel ington and after three yeafs as a traffic inspector tnere, was transferred six months ago to a similar position in

Whakatane. He was a popular and efficient officer. He leaves a'wi'dow, formerly Miss Maureen O'Connor, daughter of Mr. Maurice and the late Mrs. O'Connor, of Levin, and one daughter. It will be rgc&lle'd that Inspector Kehoe's late father, while on duty on the main road near Levin about five years ago, accosted a young espapee in a converted car. The youth produced a rifle and demanded that the inspector "get going." The culprit was later arrested.