MURDER OF TWO WOMEN

Southland Times, Issue 24830, 24 August 1942, Page 4

MURDER OF TWO WOMEN

Belated Discovery Of Bodies (P.A.) WAIROA, August 22. Concern about the non-appear-ance of the occupants was responsible for the police last night visiting the local Salvation Army Hall, which is also used as living quarters by the officer in charge. On gaining entry Constable J. King found in the sitting room the bodies of Brigadier Annie Smyth and her sister, Miss Rosamund Smyth. Both bodies showed signs of severe battering, a weapon being found near-

by. Sergeant Moore communicated with Napier and early this morning a party of detectives arrived in the charge of Detective-Sergeant Revell and immediately commenced investigations. Other officers including the Commissioner of Police' (Mr D. J. Cummings) arrived this morning and full inquiries are being made. The brigadier was on furlough when war broke out and returned to her station in Japan, where she had exciting experiences, being detained for several days for questioning by the authorities before being released. She then came to New Zealand and was appointed to take charge at Wairoa. BIG POLICE PARTY A big police party was sent from Wellington today, while detectives from nearby districts are converging on Wairoa. Chief Detective Young, of Wellington, left by plane to take charge of the investigation and he was accompanied by Dr P. P. Lynch (pathologist) and Senior Sergeant Dinnie, fingerprint and photography expert at police headquarters. Commissioner Evan Smith, of the Salvation Army, accompanied the police party, which is travelling by car and train.

Brigadier Smyth, who was aged 62, and her .sister were both bom in Wellington. The brigadier was educated at die Wellington Girls’ College and took an arts degree of the New Zealand University l in preparation for a teaching career, but instead undertook missionary work for the Salvation Army in Japan, where she went in 1906, becoming one of its best-known Christian missionaries. At the time of her return to New Zealand at the end of 1940 she was described as one of the most picturesque figures in Tokyo. She told interviewers here that she intended returning to Japan after the war. She was given charge of the Wairoa corps of the Salvation Army and was assisted by her sister, who, until that time, had spent all her life in Wellington. They have a sister in Wellington, Mrs W. J. Fraser, of Highland Park, and a brother, Mr K. H. Smyth, is. the Collector of Customs at Invercargill.

DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR POLICE

MURDERER’S LONG START

z WAIROA, August 23. Difficult problems confront the police in their investigations into the deaths of Brigadier Smyth and Miss Rosamund Smyth. From observations, it is learned that they must have been assaulted not less than ten days before the discovery of the bodies. This is the most remarkable feature of the case when it is'understood that lights had been burning in the kitchen throughout that time. The Salvation Army hall is not more than 200 yards from the main thoroughfare and 50 yards from the depot from which many passengers leave daily for Gisborne. ’ • The appearance of the light throughout the days did not bring any comments either from neighbours or even business places situated opposite. Hundreds of school children passed the place daily, yet no reference was made by anyone, neither did the wardens who were on duty at night comment. The hall is less than 15 feet from the footpath. The building, which is situated, in Queen street, is used both as living quarters for the officer and place of worship, half being used for each purpose. There are residences in close proximity on either side and also at the back, yet no person heard or saw anything to raise suspicions. It is easy to understand why local tradesmen were not concerned for it was the practice of the brigadier to pay cash for all purchases. Therefore, there was no reason to assume that everything was not well with their, customer. NO SERVICE HELD Worshippers state that when they attended at the hall last Sunday they found the place locked. They were under the impression that the brigadier had gone to the country for a Service there and therefore they returned to their homes and were not in the least concerned about the non-appearance of the officer in charge. On Friday night Constable King, whilst on duty, was informed that something was wrong at the hall and under the impression that his informant meant that a dispute of some description had arisen, proceeded there. On entering by a back window, Constable King found the body of Annie Smyth, which was lying back in a morris chair with her clothing disarranged and with a gag of tape and a portion of her apron across her mouth, her teeth having bitten through this. SECOND BODY DISCOVERED

A little later, about 9 p.m., the body of Rosamund Smyth was discovered in a bedroom, her face being badly battered and her clothing disarranged. The brigadier’s appearance showed that she had been dealt a severe blow on the side of the head, causing a fracture of the skull and death was probably instantaneous. The cleats of the morris chair were broken. The indications appear to point that only one blow was struck, possibly with a weapon not yet discovered, whilst the poker that caused Rosamund’s death was found on the floor. On a table in the kitchen near Annie’s body was found a setting for one consisting of a knife and fork, whilst seated on the stove was a container with two eggs cooked, the water having all boiled away. This creates the impression that a fairly big fire was on and adds to the belief that the crime was perpetrated in the early hours of the evening whilst a number of persons were within easy reach if any screams had been heard.

The long period intervening between the deaths of the victims and the discovery of their bodies presents the police with a very difficult problem. Dr. Lynch was engaged practically the whole day yesterday carrying out examination and not till late in the afternoon were the bodies removed to the local morgue where the doctors carried out further work. CHARITABLE NATURE

The brigadier was probably one of the best-known women in the district. She was of a very charitable nature and it was not unusual for her to take home persons for a meal or to offer spiritual encouragement. Rosamund Smyth was not nearly so well known, being a semi-invalid and very deaf, this causing her to remain most of the time indoors.

The inquest was opened this morning for the purpose of identification by a brother, Mr C. C. Smyth, manager of the Union Bank of Australia at Pahiatua. The funeral will take place at Wellington.