A DESPERATE END

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 630, 7 September 1933, Page 5

A DESPERATE END

(Press Assn.-

suicide on cliff POLICE FIND BOD^ OF THE SUSPECTED MURDERER A CHANCE DISCOVERY

— By Telegraph— Copyright).

Taumarunui, Wednesday. The body of John Grylls, a farm labourer, aged 26 years, was found at Owhango at 12.45 o'clock this afternoon by Detective J. Walsh, of Wanganui, in the preserice of Inspector Ward, of Wanganui. a bullet Wound in deceased's forebead was apparently self-inflicted. Sergeant G. Sivyer, of Taumarunui and about 15 other police were searching the bush in the vicinity at the j time. The body was found on the ! edge of a precipice in thick scrub and fern with a rifle lying alongside it. From the condition of the body it appears that Grylls shot himself on the same day that he disappeared after the shooting of Miss Rossoman on Sunday. The place where the body was found was near the Whakapapa river about a quarter of a mile from the cowshed where Miss Rossoman was murdered. Apparently Grylls went to the edge of the cliff intending that his body should fall over and drop 250 feet as he shot himself, but the body remained on the ledge. The spot is inaccessible and it was only when Detective Walsh noticed that the fern had been disturbed in the vicinity that he discovered the body which might have remained hidden in the fern for some time. Grylls, who was suspected of the murder of Miss Rossoman, occupied a hut alongside the cowshed where the girl was found dead. He had not been seen since Saturday night last when he attended a dance at which Miss Rossoman was present. The police have been searching thc bush night and day since Sunday and all roads and bridges have been watched on the assumption that Grylls, who was experienced in bush work, was trying to make a get-away. The body of the dead man was brought into Taumarunui to-day. Grylls was prominent as a local footballer and was a very powerful man. Constable C. Chestnut, of Raetahi, who was taking part in the search for Grylls, had not returned at dark tonight and a police party has been despatched to look for him.