THE MERGER MYSTERY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 232, 5 December 1916, Page 2

THE MERGER MYSTERY.

Clothing Identified.

A Verdict of'Suicfde.

As the result of police enquiries, with which Constable Waugh, of Papakura, assisted, there is every reason to believe that the headless corpse found, as recorded in our last issue, under such sensational circumstances last Thursday, adjacent to the railway line near Mercer, was that of Rudolph Lukaschewski (known as " Lucas who had been residing at Alfriston, near Papakura. The remains were interred in the Mercer Cemetery on Friday, but on Saturday morning Mr Frank Lukaschewski, an Alfriston farmer, proceeded to Mercer and recognised a watch and chain found in deceased's pockets as having belonged to bis brother (Rudolph), - whilst he further similarly recognised the suit of clothes in which* the body had been attired. Mr F Lukaschewski stated that his brother, who was a native of Poland, was 47 years of age, and had lived in New Zealand for 30 years—the lost eight years with him at Alfriston. He (Mr F. Lukaschewski) last saw him alive some six weeks ago, when he left him, saying he was going to work on the railway line at Manurewa. His brother, Mr F. Lukaschewski added, was a married man with four children but his wife for sime years has been in a mental asylum. The theory of the police, formed at the time of tbe discovery of the body on circumstances attendant * thereto, was that the man had committad suicide by placing a plug ot gelignite (similar to an untired plug found in his pockets) in his mouth and by lighting the fuse had blown his head off. This surmise is supported by Mr F. Lukaschewski's statements as to the effect that during the course of some angry words before he went away his brother threatened to blow himself up with gelignite. Mr F. Lukaschewski also identified the plug of gelignite found in the deceased's pockets aa similar * to those they used in blowing up stumps on the farm at Alfriston, and thought it probable that his brother had taken away the explosives when he departed from the farm. THE -CORONtiK'a VEKUICT. The inquest, which an stated in our last issue, was opened on Friday at Mercer, was resumed this morn ins at tbe Pukekohe Courthouse before the District Coroner, Mr Koadley. Frank Lukaschewksi dep sed tbat be went to Mercer on Saturday and there rtcognised clothes and articles shown him by the police aa having belonged to bis brother. It was six weeks ago since be saw him last. His brother and he had lived together with his brother's four children on a farm of 73 acres th?y jointly owned at Alfriston. Bis brother left the farm on a Monday morning to look for work it a sawmill at Manurewa. On the previous Friday evening bis brother arrived borne at the farm tbe worse for liquor, and ssii to witness that he was going to town the following day and that if he could cot arrange for his children to be placed in a home he would bind himself to them as they would go "looney'' (his wif already being in an asylum) and wculd blow the lot up. Tte children bad been in St. Mary's Convent, Aukland, but as the result of their father getting' in arrears with tbe payment for their upkeep they had to be taken away and they came to the farm. Witness asaiated with the payments for the children while tbey were at the Convent until bis banking account gave out. His brother left for Auckland witb about £l6 or £l7 of gum on the Friday moroing and must b'ave returned home by the late train the following uight, as be was there on Sunday morning when witness got out ot bed. After his brother left to look tor employment he (witness) did not see him again, and he informed Constable Waugh of bis disappearance. Hia brother was a "good felljw" when sober, but "beastly-' when drunk. Gelignite fuses and caps were stored in a shed on tbe farm. Tbe detonator, fuse acd gelignite he saw at Mercer were similar to those on tbe farm. He remonstrated with bis brother tur drinking, and although he resolved to discontinue the practice he never did.

The Coroner returned a verdict that tbe deceased was Rudolph Lnkaschewski and tbat he had committed suicide by blowing himself up with pelignite. The Coroner remarked that be considered it creditable to the police that they bad been able to establiah tbe identity of the deceased, whose mind had evidently become unhinged by tbe worry of his wile being in a mental asylum and by having four children dependent on him.