WAIROA MURDERS

Southland Times, Issue 24832, 26 August 1942, Page 5

WAIROA MURDERS

BLOOD-STAINED AXE FOUND (P.A.) > WAIROA, August 25. There has been no further development in the police inquiries into the recent deaths of Brigadier Annie Smyth and her sister, Miss Rosamund Smyth. At present the police party is engaged principally in routine work, of which there is a tremendous amount to be done, and the size of the files is mounting daily. In response to an appeal tor miormation concerning the deceased, the police station has been overwhelmed with replies, but it is still very difficult to fix the date either of the Smyths was last actually seen alive. However, no matter what information is received concerning the victims being seen after August 10, it is still hard to explain why the mail was left not opened after that date. . , , . , As a result of certain pathological evidence the police are now endeavouring to ascertain who supplied the brigadier with a substantial meal which it appears she consumed shortly before she met her death and which may not have been partaken of at the Salvation Army Hall. The finding of a large blood-stained axe in the washhouse of the premises shows that, judging by the nature of the injuries, this might have been used as a weapon on one or both, in addition to the poker which was previously found.