ONLY A YOUTH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 62, 4 November 1931, Page 3

ONLY A YOUTH

YOUNG LABOURER ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH, P.N. MURDER WORKING ON FARM Norman Robert Decke, who has been remanded on a charge of the murder of Edwin John Blakeway, at Palmerston North, on August 24, is a young farm labourer only 19 years of age,Practically ten weeks have elapsed since the police commenced investigations and with the very little information made available, the news of the arrest came with surprising suddenness to the public generally. The detectives quietly proceeded to Fitzherbert West shortly after noon and arrested the man whilst he was engaged at his usual farm duties, The Tragedy Recalled It will be recalled that the tragic incident occurred during the weekend of August 23. Early on a Monday morning (August 24) the body of Mr. E. J. Blakeway found on the side of the Long-burn-Karere Road, about five miles from Palmerston North.' The first person to make the tragic discovery was Mr. H. G. LengWard, of the "Manawatu Times" staff, who was passingt along the highway in the course of his duties about 7.30 a.m. and noticed deeeased lying at the edge of the road with his bicycle on the side of the motai fifteen yards away. Aged 26 years, Mr. Blakeway, who was at one time a promanent amateur road-cyclist, was a booking elerk employed at the Palmerston North railway station and, at the time of his death, had only been in Palmerston North for a fortnight, having been stationed at Otaki. Prior to that he was at the Longburn railway station for two years, his parents residing at Christchurch. On the night of the tragedy the late Mr, Blakeway had been visiting Mr. Meehan's house on the Long-burn-Karere Road and had left the residence at 11 o'clock in the evening to cycle back to Palmerston North. The police assiduously corjducted investigations and in the early stages a body of detectives were engaged on the case with Inspector J. Cummings (Dunedin) supervising the work. It ,is understood that the inquest on the late Mr . Blakeway will be conducted in conjunction with the Court proceedings.