Moore Park Tragedy.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1922, Page 2

Moore Park Tragedy.

STARTLING REVELATTONS.

(.BY TEI,EGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

SYDNEY, Oct 31. llie inquest on tin' death of Mrs Kearney (whose body was found in Moore Park ft year Or so. after Iter disappearance) is bringing Hew light on some secrets of Sydney's underworld. The discovery of the body was the. outcome of admissions made during a family quarrel by a man" allegedly belonging to one of the gongs of night prowlers which infest the parks, hagsnatching and levying blackmail. This man, giving evidence at the inquest, stated that he had a companion on the night Mrs Kearney disappeared, were in the vicinity where the body was fo;md. They saw a man carrying the body of a woman, and after watching, they spoke to the man, who said that the woman was all right and he gave £1 to each of them to go away, when the men left, they went to the spot, found blood and a pair of earrings. Next morning they revisited the spot, and discovered the sand was disturbed. They started ■ digging with a shovel found there, but became frightened and fled. They kept the fact secret, except from witness’s wife through whom it leaked out. Other evidence showed Mrs Kearney had received warnings to desist from her inquiries regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of her brother from a supposed accident, but whom she suspected was the victim, of an underworld gang. It is understood the police hold evidence that blood-money is being squeezed from Kearney’s murderer, and that the crime is one of a series connected with park prowlers’ operations. INQUEST EVIDENCE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 1. At the Kearney inquest two witnesses admitted they were members of organised day and night gangs of touts rr who prowl the park bagsnatehing and blackmailing. Tlie occupation yielded from a few shillings to four. pounds weekly. The gangs had been operatin' far -eve. nl years.