MURDER IN WAIKATO

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1931, Page 5

MURDER IN WAIKATO

OLD MAN SHOT. AN ARREST MADE. (Ihj Telajrupli —Per Press Association) HAMILTON. April 10. An elderly farmer, of Kaiipaki, about tea miles from Hamilton, named Arthur RosSiter. 87 years of age, was found shot dead at Iris farm this morning. A man named Reginald Thomas Norman Richard, aged 38 years, was later arrested, and was charged with the murder of Rossiter.

RoksiLt was shot through the hack of the head, apparently with a 12 bo ix* brecijii-lunding single-barrelled gun, which was Utcr discovered by the police. It seemed that Richard bad been friendly with Rossiter’s daughter. Miss Olivo Rossiter, who had been on a holiday visit to Tauranga. Apparently she had latterly rejected his advances, and lie was subsequently charged at Tauranga on April 1, helm*,. Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., with assaulting the girl. On that occasion lie was remanded for medical treatment at Auckland. While he was awaiting transfer lo Auckland, Richard escaped from tlie lockup at 'Tauranga, and he had not been seen since until to-day. Thy police have been scouring the district ever since for him, and this morning, Inspector EccFs. ol Hamilton, had reason to believe that tlie man might be in Lin* Oliaupo district, where Miws Rossi tor’s father resided. 'The Inspector immediately instructed <'unstable Rimmer and Torsyth, of To Awiwnutu. to proceed to Rossiter s farm, their arrival there, was however, too latcs to avert a tragedy. On entering the farm, the policemen saw Richard about to leave by the back door. They detained him, and. together, they entered the house, where, they found Rossiter dead. FURTHER DETAILS. HAMILTON, April 10. Aftt'r the octogenarian farmer. Arthur Rossiter. was foul'd dead at his farm at Karipaki, this morning, with a gunshot, wound in the- head, Reginald Thomas Norman Richard, aged 38, was arrested and charged with murder. Rossiter was shot through the hack of the head apparently with a single-barrelled gun, which was later i •covered by the police, who, when they saw Richard about to leave by the back door of the house, they detained him.

Then together tiliey entered the dwelling, and on reaching tlie kitchen, they discovered a pool or blood on tin. floor, while the furniture around was also splashed with blood. Proceeding to a bedroom, they found the old man lying on Die floor alongside a bed. dead, with u gaping wound in the back of the Head. The body was covered with blankets. Rossiter was known to have carried out the morning’s milking, and biter ho was seen about 8 ft.m. by bis son. who lives at a house at the rear of The farm. From the police investigations, it would seem that deceased was about to sit down to breakfast when the fatal shot was fired Iron* behind. Pellets entered the rear ol his head and emerged through tlu> right eyJt*, a gaping wound being blown right through the skull. There was only one shot fired. The walls and the furniture were spattered with blood and pulverised flesh. Mr Rossiter was n very old resident of Karipaki. In the bedroom at the Te ar of that where the body was found, the window had been carefully covered with the blind, and a blanket which had been securely nailed up Tli e front door had also been nailed up.