A CHRISTCHURCH CRIME

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3652, 16 June 1927, Page 3

A CHRISTCHURCH CRIME

MURDERED WOMAN FOUND IN

SCRUB,

MAN SEEN RUNNING AWAY.

Christchurch, Last Night

A woman, aged 30 or 35, was murdered this morning or last night in a thick growth of lupins in a paddock at Bunvood, a suburb about four miles from the city. Her head bore two terrible wounds, one over each eye. It is not known exactly when tluf murder occurred, last night or early to-dav. DISCOVERED BY BOY. The body was found by Eric Mumford, aged 15, about 1.30 this afternoon. He communicated at once with the Rev. C. A. Tobin, Vicar of the Parish, avlio Avent to the scene and found the dead Avoman’s body. It was that of a short, fair-Iv-stout woman. Her dark, short hair Avas matted with blood and there was much blood on the ground where the body lay. A light blue waterproof coat was covered with blood. Nearby was a short umbrella of stylish shape and also a parcel and an attache case containing a night-dress, a brush and comb, and other women’s toilet requisites. The scene of the tragedy is only 20 feet from the roadway. MAN IN THE CASE. The hoy’s statement is that he saw a man running from the scene. He had frequently during the last month seen the woman meet a man corresponding to the description of the man seen running away. The meetings occurred at luncji-timc, i!m woman arriving on foot and the man bv tram troni the eil_\. ’ He does not state that he saw them meet to-day. The woman usually carried an attache case similar to that found beside the body. It was their custom to sir down in the broom at the spot where the body was found and to eat lunch togetherThe police have found a tuft of longish, dark brown hair unlike the dead woman's near the body. Indications point to this hair liaA'ing pulled from the head of the murderer in a struggle. A doctor who examined the body,said the wounds were probably made with some sharp-edged instrument, probably oi iron. In addition to the two severe wounds in the forehead, the doctor found other smaller wounds on the hack of the head. The police have not vet. found the weapon with which the murder was committed. LATER. The police refuse all information to-night. They even refuse to slate whether the dead woman has been indentified or whet her an arrest has been made.