THE MOTOR MYSTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1925, Page 1

THE MOTOR MYSTERY

OA ATARI", April 21. Particulars show that Olive Rutherford (lSyears) and Philip Hudson (10 years) had been keeping company for lour years, and were formally engaged, with the full approval of the parents. They had been away together on several previous occasions. Miss Ruthoriord. on the day preceding the accident had a difference with her mother concerning certain details of the former’s employment. It is understood that the girl left home on Tuesday morning, taking a dress basket, and did not go to work. It is believed that a, room was taken in a Dunedin hotel, ,-iiid the dress basket left there. Mrs Rutherford did not .see her daugh-

ter up to the time of the accident. Consent was given to Hudson by li parents to use the car about 6.30 o

Tuesday evening. Hudson was a careful and experienced driver. There is no official information as to the time the pair left Dunedin, nor their movements up to the time of the accident-.

Mr Condon, a resident of Knrow. when passing along the road at 7.10 a.in. on Wednesday, saw the'ear pulled up on the side of the road, near where tlie accident subsequently happened.

and ascertained from Hudson wavim his hand that all was well. A sheplieri who passed on a horse at 7.30 a.in. ii a heavy fog, Motived a disturbance o metal on the road where the ear liai left it. He went further up the road and on returning investigated. Lookin; over the elifl. lie saw the remains o

the car and a body lying on a ledge 25 reef. down. Dr Matliiesoii. of M harekuri. was communicated with, and assisted by his wife, dressed the wounds and conveyed the girl to the Knrow Hotel. PARTRIDGES FOUND.

The police, including Detective T.o Seller, commenced enquiries on "Wednesday afternoon. They found Hudson’s watch stopped at 7.‘25, beside the l body of the girl: also a hat. glove, and a niail’s handkerchief soaked w ith blood. A man’s bat was found nearby with a hole in tlie top. An empty cartridge was found beside Olive Rutherford and another near the wrecked ear. Empty chocolate boxes and broken lemonade bottles were also found. The bloodstains led from ilio body of the girl down tlie side of the hill past the debris of the car and on again over the stones down to the water’s edge. The stains were not extensive, hut sulficiont to show the direction in which Hudson went.

The police have endeavoured to formulate theories, but none can be established in the absence of Hudson and owing to the death of the girl. Tilt riHo. if used, was not discovered, and it is thought that it may have been taken to Hie river by Hudson. Whether Hudson and the girl were in the car when it went over tlie elifl will probably never bo determined When discovered, the girl bad a bleeding wound in the top of the skull, and there was a small round bole in tin' head. An operation was performed on Wednesday evening at II o’clock. Her fare was scratched, apparently through •striking oil the rocks, and there were severe abrasions about the body. The girl, though unconscious, spoke several times, but made no reference in the accident., excepting to say that her neck was sore. The police are coni inning (lie search for Hudson, and have unsuccessfully dragged ihe liv.r in I lie hope.-, of IV covering the ri lie. which, il is learned he sometimes carried with him. Portions of the river were dynamited in Hie hopes of raising the body, but w ith no success. TIIK ROST MORTEM. BULLET FOUND IX DIRI/S SKULL OAM.WiU. April 27. The post inortcni examination on the body of Olive Rutherford was completed al a late hour last night. The examining doctors refused l.u give auv information, in view oi flail evidence being required later al the inquest, but it was learned Unit a build had been found al the base ol the skull, and that Ihe other injuries were not sudioient ill tlienisel ves to cause dea I h.

SEARCH FOR HUDSON. OAMARU. April 27. A warrant was issued by the Kurow Bench to-day. (barging Philip Richard Hudson. University student, with murdering Olive .lean Rutherford. The search was continued to-day lint no trace of Hudson was found. ft is still believed Hint lie has been drowned in the Wnitaki IHver, though it is quite possible that ho swam the river, and got into the hill country on the oilier side. As ho was without food ho could not survive for many days.