THE PAPAMOA TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3942, 14 May 1929, Page 2

THE PAPAMOA TRAGEDY.

'CLEARLY' OAiSE OF AIURDER. Gisborne, Alay 11. Inspector O’Halloran, who is at'” J Opotiki, stated to-day that while the affair at Papamoa was shrouded in mystery, there could be no suggestion that the deceased man, Samuel AlcAlesse, whose body was found on Papamoa Hill, had committed suicide. It was perfectly clear that he had been deliberately shot at close range. He and the members of his staff were making every possible inquiry, particularly with a view to ascertaining if any persons other than those already accounted for had been anywhere in the locality at the time. So far the police had only been able to learn of one motorcar passing along the road during the hour AlcAlesse was separated ' from his mates, and no report had been received of other persons in the vicinity. Death was caused by a shot from a pea rifle, which passed clean through the heart and came out near the back of the shoulder. The dead man had been severely battered about tbe face and there was a cut on the upper lip extending right to the base of the nose. The pea rifle, which belonged to AlcAlesse, had been broken and placed in a sack, which was found lying in a watertable on the opposite side of the road, 16 feet from the body. Only one shot had been fired, -an examination not supporting the previous suggestion that a se- < mid bullet was responsible for the wound on the face. INQUEST OPENED. DECEASED’S RELATIVES RESIDENT IN IRELAND. Opotiki, May 11. A formal inquest was held this -morning before Air. F. J. Short, district Coroner, and a jury of six, into the death of Samuel AlcAlesse, who was found on the Papamoa Hill on Thursday. Inspector O’Halloran conducted proceedings on behalf of • the police. Patrick Fitzpatrick deposed that he had known deceased for 2.J years. His relatives reside in Ballymine, County Antrim, Del and. He had viewed the body at the morgue and was sure that it was his friend, Samuel McAlesse. Harold Herbert Atkinson, clerk of tho Public Works (Department, gave evidence that deceased was employed (by the department. He had known liijm for 14 months. He was a good worker, of a bright disposition. 1 lie police asked that proceedings be adjourned sine die and this was done. The funeral was held this afternoon.