AUCKLAND MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1931, Page 6

AUCKLAND MURDER

MYSTERY OF DEAD BANKROBBER. \ 'MOYEMENIS TRACED. AUCKLAND, December 23. A development in the investigation of the murder of Mr A. J. Bio infield, the chemist who was brutally attacked in his shop in Wellesley Street, Auckland, on October 30, has strengthened the suspicions of the police that the assailant was Oswald Laurence Coulton, the Remuera bank robber. Coulfcon has now been definitely identifiedi 'ltktes the “New Zealand Herald,” as the man who entered a fisli shop in Queen Street just prior to the murder and bought a parcel of fish and chips, which was subsequently found in Mr Blomfield’s shop. From the early stages of the investigation the police attached great importance to the evidence of the proprietress of the fish shop and a customer in the pharmacy who saw a man, believed to be the murderer, come from the room where the murder was committed. It was found that the woman possessed a clearer memory of the man, and the investigating detectives tended to rely more upon her testimony than on that of the customer. The woman was positive that the parcel of fish and chips found in the pharmacy was purchased from her 'shop, a fact which linked her customer with the murderer.

On Friday the woman ‘was shown a photograph of Coulton, secured from Autralia. She stated definitely that lie was identical with the man who was in her shop. This was the third occasion on which the woman had been called upon by the police'for identification purposes. Immediately after the shooting of Coulton by Mr Youngs at the Remuera branch of the Bank ot New Zealand, the woman and the pharmacy customer saw his body at tile mortuary. At that time neither would positively identify the body fe NO HESITATION. The woman also had the opportunity of seeing a photograph of Coulton in a football group, whioii was taken at Papakura. On that occasion she gave a “half-identification,” but expressed doubt. There was no hesitation in her identification where she was shown the latest photograph secured by the police. The apparent inconsitency in the woman’s attitude can be explained. It is a recognised fact that the appearance of an individual changes after death, and experienced police officers state that it requires someone who knows the deceased person well to establish identity at the mortuary. The photograph of Coulton in the football team was not a very clear one, although he was actually picked out by the woman. However, he was smiling in the photograph, so that his appearance was changed somewhat.

DETECTIVES’ NEW HOPES. Tire woman’s identification has given new hope to the detectives, whose investigation has been a long and wearisome business. Although they have ■suspected. Coulton’s connection with the murder, they now find themselves in possession of something which lifts the case- above the circumstantial basis. The police are now particularly anxious to trace Coulton’s movements during the week immediately after the Blomfield murder.

The day of the murder was a Friday, and on the Sunday afterward, November 1, Coulton left the house in Park Road .where he was staying to go, as he >said, to Christchurch. He returned to the house on the following Saturday, and the police have definite proof that he spent at least some of the week at Devonport. It is known that Coulton obtained a shave in a barber’s shop at Devonport on Monday, November 2, and that he obtained money through the post at the Devonport post office on the following Friday.