DOUBLE MURDER

Evening Star, Issue 24280, 22 August 1942, Page 4

DOUBLE MURDER

TWO WOMEN BATTERED TO DEATH SALVATION ARMY BRIGADIER ONE VICTIM (P.A.) WAIROA, August 22. Concern having been expressed regarding the non-appearance of the occupants, the police last night visited the local Salvation Army hall, which was also used as living quarters by the officer in charge, On gaining entry, Constable King found in the sitting room the bodies of Brigadier Annie Smyth and her sister, Rosamund Smyth. The circumstances point to both not having met their death by natural causes, as the bodies showed signs of severe battering, a weapon being found nearby. Sergeant Moore communicated with Napier, and early this morning a party of detectives arrived, in charge of De-tective-sergeant Revell, and immediately commenced investigations. Other officers were expected this morning, and full inquiries are being. made. The brigadier was on furlough when the war broke out, and returned to her station in Japan, where she had exciting experiences, being detained, for several days for questioning by the authorities before being released. She then came to New Zealand, and was appointed to take charge of Wairoa.

NOT SEEN SINCE AUGUST 13 NAPIER, August 22. An apparent double murder was discovered at Wairoa last night, when the bodies of Brigadier Smyth and her sister were found in a house in Queen street, Wairoa, with their heads battered in with an iron poker. The Commissioner of Police arrived by plane this morning and left immediately for Wairoa, accompanied by police photographers, finger-print experts, and all the available detective force. The dead people had not been seen since August 13, but the windows were all open and the lights had been burning day and night.