MURDER OF CYCLIST

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 69, 12 November 1931, Page 5

MURDER OF CYCLIST

(Press Assn.-

DEAT.H OF BLAKEWAY YOUNG FARM HAND ARRAIGNED ON SERIOUS CHARGE .. PRELIMINARY HEARING OPENS

— By Telegraph— Copyright).

' PALMERSTON N., Y/ed. The Coui-thouse Was crowded this morning, when Norxnan Robert Decke, a farm hand, aged 19 years, appeared before Mr. Stout, S.M., eharged with the rnurder at Karere on August 23 of Edwin John Blakeway. An inquest is proceeding simultaneously, Mr. Graham beixxg on the Bench as coroner. There are . 41 witnesses, includihg seven police officers, ' three doctors, two gunsmiths and aif'analyst. The heariftg is expected to last three days. Herbert Geoffrey Leng Ward, a iiewspaper runner, gave evidence that he found a cycle on the roadway at Karere early on the morning of August 24, ahout 300 yards from an intersection. Five yards further on he saw the body of a man lying on the gra,ss. The man had been dead for some time. Rain had fallen for several -hours previously. The back of the body, which was lying face downward, was soaked. William England, labourer, gave similar evidence. He said he met the previous witness shortly after the former had found the body. Robert Tanner, a farmer living in the vicinity of the. spot where the body was found said he heard no noises during the night of Sunduy. In consequence of something said he went along the road next morning, and saw the body. There was a considerable amount of blood on the face, hands, left wrist and arm, and a considerable quantity of blood on the road. Body Apparemtly Czxrried It did not look as if deceased had fallen off the cy.cle and crawled, said witness, but as -.if the' body 'had been earried from the cycle and laid in the grass. Continuing, witness said he found a discharged cartridge shell near the wheel of the cycle. Patrick Meehan, who had arrived later, said he found a shell near. the front of the cycle. This he handed' to a constable. Later a.son of witness found another shell. Dr. Cyril Arnold King said that 'on proceeding to Karere at 8 a.m. on August 24 he found the body lying prone on the side of the road resting on the grass. Four Bullet V/otimcis He considered that death- -had occurred at least eight, hours previously. Later the body was examined at the morgue. Four bullets of small calibre had entered it, while another had passed through the clothes. The post-mortem revealed a? perf6rating bullet wound in the nose, the same ip the back of the left hand, a. bullet wound in the lower left forearm (the bullet being under the skin near the elbow), and a perforating wound through the left side of the upper part of the breastbon© just helow the base of the neck. The missle.had pehetrated the upper lobe of the left lung, and then torn through the left pulmonary artery. The only fatal"' wound was the last one. Death wag-due to rapid haemorrhage caused by a bullet wound. The Crown Prosecutor: Would deceased have lived long after the bullet entered? Witness: No. I am of opinion that death occurred in five or ten minminutes. ««• No Signs of Crawllng Replying to further questiohsr witness said the body appeared to have