ELDERLY MAN MURDERED

Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1949, Page 5

ELDERLY MAN MURDERED

Press Association)

Battered Body Discovered In Lonely Hut

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, March 20. The naked 'body of Brian O 'Connor, aged 7Q, was found wrapped in a bianket in a bunk, which was covered with firewopdj coolking nt§a§ils and re eently uprooted plants, in his hut at. Chertsey last evening. After exhaus tive inquiries by a large force of detectives and un'ifprmed p.oIiee headed by Supeiint§ndent J. Bruee Young about visitors O 'Cpnnpr wfls thpught tchave had on Friday night a man was uetained. O 'Cojinor, 'whp was a retired enging Jrivjer, lived ftlo&e in lils hut Which ife some distance from the neighbours hpuses. When two . of his neighbojjrs (Messrs p. Murphv and E. Dunstan) did not see him abont yesterday they went to the hut. They saw no sign of O 'Connor, but found the hut in grea1 disorder. They informed CpnstabJc Adajos, pf Rakaia, who made an inves cigation at 8 p.m. He found O 'Connor '» oody in thp buuk. The head was bat cered and there Were bruises on th oody, O 'Connor had been dead foi some hours. 'A squad of deteetives under the direction of Detective-Sergeant G. W Alty was seut to Chertsey and latei ihey were followed by Senior-Deteetive F. J. Brady, Detective-Sergeant J. B. Kirloi and Dr. A. B, Pearson, pathotogiat at the hpspital, It was clear that C 'Connor was dead, but because of the poor lighting— only toruhes and an oil Jamp were availabic — a thorough examination could not bc made. A police guard was plaeed over the hut and- the deteetives began their inquiries which last6d throughout the night. . Dr. Pearson and Detective-Sergeant Ivarton who returned to Christchurch last night went back to Chertsey today and we?e followed by Superintendem Young and Detective-mspector J. Holmes. At, a result of inquiries madt. by deteetives who went to Methven a man was detained and later brought to Christchurch by Constable Paddy, of Methven.- Constable Paddy played a large part in tracing the suspected man. An inquest was opened by the Coronet, Mr. E. A, Lee (Timar-u), and was adjotirned sine die. A postmortem examinatiOn was ordered. Chertsey ip 38 miles south of ' Christchurch on the main highway and' failwav line, and Methven is aboiit 2Q miles inland fronj Chertsey,.