MELBOURNE TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1924, Page 3

MELBOURNE TRAGEDY.

lUBTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. SEXUAL MANIAC SUSPECT ED. MELBOURNE. Aug. I. The eilv is horrified at the murder of Irene Tiickerman, which has so many feat mV* in eoiiininn with the Gun Alley tragedy. The whole community i- endeavouring to assist the police in the search for the perpetrator. Kurt her police investigations disclose that the murdered girl was seen during Hie •"•■■■nin'i in the neighbourhood of her home, with a man. It is believed that the child was enticed to some stable or house, not far from heme, ami there strangled in order to stop her protesting cries. The Chief of Police is of the opinion that the crime was committed hy a sexual maniac, and it will not he long before ho is arrested. ' The whole district to-day is terrorised, the children either being driven to school in motor ears, or taken hy terrified parents.

fruitless SEARCH. MELBOURNE. August •">. Exhaustive efforts by police to trace Tuckermaii's murderer, are limitless. POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. (Received this day at 10.2 d a.in.) MKLUOniN’E. Aug. 5. In connection with the Tuckeiman murder .the police traced the girl s movements to ll.Tin.in. It is believed that the establishment of her movements immediately after that will dear up what is at present a mystery. Heavy rain fell at intervals on Saturdav night and the point at interest is that neither I the sacks, nor the girls' clothes were ( wete'fhe majority of the buildings and [ stables in the locality have been thoroughly searched by the police. Partially congealed blood was found nutside one house, hut investigations threw no light on the crime. The i»<- i In e found the decn impie=-ion of heavy , motor ear tyre- clo-c to a. gra.-s plot j where the body wa- discovered. I'°l-| lowing the tracks they found the car had swerved from the centre to the side of the road. In this way it is thought the body of the child may have been brought from a distance. A similar 1 lieorv was at first held in connection with the Gun Ally murder, hut it was later exploded. It is believed that death occurred about eight on Saturday night. This outrage and other relent crimes have awakened a dclermiu.it.ion in the minds of the .Ministry tu have the police force reorganised. SEARCH STARTS. (Received this day at 12.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Aug. 5. The Administrator of the Northern Territory lias advi-cd that the I’catceMawso nexpedilion wa- to leave Darwin last night.