FOUND MURDERED

Grey River Argus, 13 September 1937, Page 5

FOUND MURDERED

ELDERLY STOREKEEPER Near Geraldine I ..... POLICE LACK CLUE. I [Per Press Association], TIMARU, September 12. William Gaby, proprietor of a general store on the Main South Road at Arundel, nine miles north of Geraldine, was the victim of a dastardly attack during Friday night, and was found dead in the kitchen behind his I shop about 10 o’clock on Saturday morning. He was last seen alive, by i a neighbour, about 8 o’clock on Frijday night. | Gaby, who was a bachelor, in his seventy-second year, was found lying i with his hands tied together behind ' his back, his ankles also being lied loosely together. There was a severe wound on the forehead, apparently caused by a blow from a heavy blunt instrument, which has not been found, although an extensive search has been made. The body was found fully dressed. The nearest house to the store is (hat of Mr. E. Matheson, from whom Gaby was in the habit of securing pig food daily. Quite frequently,

Gaby did not make his call till after dark, and then he went to the sty, which was one hundred yards from the store. Apparently, Gaby called for the pig food on Friday night, and walked back from Math-

mung uiv iviuiu nuau, vniviiix.t; ay a small gate on the north side ot ris shop, and then went rount the side ,o the back door. The sound of his

approaching footsteps, apparently, disturbed the intruder, who is thought i to have struck Gaby a severe blow J just as he reached the door. The uni fortunate man evidently was carrying I the pig tin and a lantern, for they were found together, with a box of matches and a small brown paper bag containing potatoes, on the footpath at the back door. 1 A small patch of blood marked the footpath, while there were several splashes of blood on the door. The assailant, evidently, lifted Gaby and dragged him over the doorstep into the kitchen, and then tied , his hands behind him, and loosely tied his ankles, the body being found lying face downwards on the floor, just inside the back door. The binding would appear to indicate that the assailant thought that Gaby would recover consciousness, and that, by this means, he would facilitate escape by preventing Gaby from securing assistance. As Gaby lived alone, it is at present unknown whether any money or goods were taken. The shop was not dic-fiirhad hut frnv nninc vvpvp fnnnd

on the floor. There was still money remaining in the till. The tragedy was discovered by Charles Johnston, a labourer, of Arundel, who called at the shop for petrol. He summoned- the police, and Doctor Mail of Geraldine, but the latter could only pronounce life extinct. Inspector T. Shanahan, DetectiveSergeant E. Thomas, Detective N. Kempt (Timaru), were early on the scene, and they were reinforced later by Sergeant M. Hill and Constable Abernethy ( Ternuka). The absence of any definite clue in the shape of an instrument increased the difficulties of the police, who made a thorough search of the store. The | store is a few hundred yards from I the Rangitata River bed, and, with a | large gorse paddock some distance I west of the house, the surrounding countryside offers unlimited scope for hiding a weapon. Gaby purchased his business 15 years ago, and 12 years ago the original shop was destroyed by fire. The tragedy on Friday was the third occasion on which the premises had been entered with criminal intent during the last three years.

About three years ago, the shop was entered by two masked men, who demanded that Gaby hold up, or, otherwise, a refusal would mean that he would be shot. The intruders made off when Gaby threatened to get. a shot gun. A year ago, the shop was again burgled, and £25 was stolen, but on Friday night the unfortunate man was apparently taken by surprise. Gaby, who was much respected throughout the district, was a Chairman of the Arundel Hall Committee and of the School Committee for a long term, but failing health caused him to relinquish these posilions. A brother of Mr. Gaby lives at Ternuka, and Mrs. A. G. Bryant, of Geraldine, was his aunt, her place being a second home for him. Mr. Gaby’s petrol station is well known to motorists who travel regularly between Christchurch and Timaru. Arundel is only a very small settlement, and there are very few habitations within easy range of the petrol station.