A MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1930, Page 5

A MURDER

A MAN SHOT DEAD. POLICE SEARCH IN PROGRESS. (By .Telegraph—Per Press Association J CHRISTCHURCH, September 4'. Police believe the death of Robert Allan a farm labourer, at Lake Coleridge yesterday, was due to murder. j He'was-found on the road fully dressed with a bullet wound in the chest. There was no weapon anywhere. A search is now being made for a possible witness of the tragedy. • Cl. THE APPARENT MOTIVE. % CHRISTCHURCH, September' Detectives are investigating- the crime. It is understood they have a description of a wanted man, who is said to be armed with a rifle and revolver - - v " The motive for the crime appears to have been theft of'food. Immediately " prior to 'the ' Cockburn was driving a tractor on a block of land, .. adjoining the road. He had placed his Uuflch neW ‘to EiaHvork but later discoV- ! tired it had been stolen. Given a lift in a lorry he overtook and accosted two men whom he is said to have charged! his lunch. : ’ fe definitely known as to what occurred except that Cockburn was killfed by being shot, apparently at very close range. A quarter of an hour later Mr F. W. Longbein ; (District Public Works Engineer), found Cockburn dead at this/ spot. The men whom Cockburn accosted are stated to have been seen earlier in the day by a station owner, John Murchison, who has furnished a description to the police. / two swac men wanted. £

CHRISTCHURCH, September L An official statement by the police says : foul play is suspected. The whereabouts of two swag men seen in the. vicinity about that time, is being' sought.' ' ' ■ " ; The first is said to be from 50 to 60 years of age, and-six feet .high. The second is a man of about 30, about six feet eight inches high.” in addition to the squad of police and detectives that left for the scene last night; considerable reinforcements went out this morning.