KARERE MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1931, Page 6

KARERE MURDER

POLICE INQUIRIES. EARLY DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. PALMERSTON N., September 8. So far no important development lias occurred in connection with the murder of Edwin John Blakeway, railway booking office clerk, near Palmerston on Sunday night, August 23. However the detectives, who have been working hard are known to have made some progress during the last few days and they are steadily linking up the evidence, with the result itliat an important development may take place within the next few days.

Investigations by the detectives have made it possible to fix the time of the cyclist’s death at 11.25 p.m. Ten minutes after Mr Blakeway took farewell of Miss Betty Median, at Karere, at 11.15 p.m. Miss Tanner and a married sister, who resided fifteen chains away from where Blakeway’s b'dy was found, heard groans. They were in bed and at first thought the noises were made by animals on the farm. When they subsequently heard of the tragedy enacted so near their bouse both \\ omen were quite sure that the sounds heard were the unfortunate clerk’s groans. Strange to say neither heard any of the five shots firefl from a weapon of .22 calibre. Experts consider that the report made by such a small weapon whether it was a r fie or a revolver, might not be heard three hundred yards away in open counltry. RIFLES EXAMINED. Although two rifles have been secured by the police and sent to Wellington for examination and tests by experts, it cannot yet be proved whether either was used against Blakeway. Some consider a revolver was used. Another puzzling feature of the murder is that two of the five shots fired at the victim were discharged at point 1,1;,k range. One sleeve of the overconit which Blakeway was wearing, and also one hand, were singed by the explosion. Another feature made known for the first time is that Blakeway’s racing bicycle on which be was riding back to Palmerston was found untlama .ed and lying on the metal of the road in an opposite direction to that in which he had been travelling. Detectives believe this indicates that he turned ' round to dismount when spoken to or intercepted by his slayer who, judging by -the direction of the shots, was hiding on the side of the road in tlie grass near the fence. It is also believed that Blakeway was first shot before he dismounted, as there were bloodstains followed to the grassy roadside where lie was found.