Untitled

Shannon News, 21 January 1924, Page 3

The failure of the police, so far, to solve the recent murder at Aramoho recalls the fact that a murder of a similar nature committed in Canterbury over seven years ago still remains a mystery (says an exchange). There is no trace of the man who murdered Mr. and Mrs. James Frackleton Holland,, in their home,- at Raven Street, Kaiapoi, on May 11, 1916, just as there is no trace of the man who murdered Mrs. William Oates, of Somme Parade, Aramoho, on October 26, 1923. There is a striking similarity in the circumstances surrounding both tragedies. In each case the murderer not only studied very carefully the movements and habits of his victims, but he also choose a house that was in rather a lonely situation *knd for the time likely to be free from the observation by neighbours. , The coincidence goes further than that. The murddrer at Ivaiapoi as well as at Aramoho, used a heavy blunt instrument, catching his victims unawares, and knocking them down from behind. In both cases the murdered woman was dragged some distance before the-assailant considered that he had completed his work. Those are the points of resemblance. Tire main point of difference is that at Aramoho the murdered’s motive was plainly robbery. At Kaiapoi searching investigation has failed to bring to light any motive. Mr. Holland's pockets were not searched and the house was not ransacked.