POLICE SEARCH FOR MURDER CLUE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 1

POLICE SEARCH FOR MURDER CLUE

MYSTERY OF LONELY ROAD No Trace of Roadman’s Slayer ROBBERY MAY HAVE BEEN MOTIVE (Special to THE SUN) OPOTIKI, To-day. THE death of Samuel McAleese, the Public Works surfaceman who was found in a lonely spot on the Papamoa Hill with a bullet wound in his chest on Thursday, still remains a mystery. It seems certain that he was murdered, but by whom and for what reason it is difficult to surmise.

rpHE scene of the tragedy is in the i Gisborne police district. The police here were instructed to take up investigations and Constable Breed, accompanied by Dr. H. M. Budd, superintendent of the public hospital, and .Mr. F. J. Short, district coroner, proceeded to Papamoa, where they arrived about 6 p.m. Mr. J. Lappin, who with the Maori Makarini made the tragic discovery, was found waiting near the body of McAleese. Makarini had gone home. Careful examination of the road in the vicinity of where the body was fouud failed to show any other traces of blood except where the head was touching the road. Mr. Lappin stated he saw McAleese alive last at lunch time. He told him to go down the road to clear some small slips. Mr. Lappin and Makarini continued to work together. When the two men went along the road about two o'clock they discov-e-ed the body lying on the side of the road, face downwards. Mr. Lappin turned the body over and found that Ilfs was extinct. Mr. Lappin then went back to the camp and tried to ring the Opotiki Public Works Office on the private line. Makarini discovered the rifle in the bag and drew Mr. Lappln's attention to it, and the latter said, “Don't touch it." CAR PASSED So far as is known the only car which travelled over the road about the time McAleese was killed was a car containing two men. These men Mopped later and the police Interrogated them, but it is understood that they knew nothing of the tragedy. The two men who found the body were unaware that McAleese ever had a pea rifle in his possession. The only outward sign of injury was on the top lip, which was split from the nose to the mouth. Only after examination was it found that the nose was broken. It is thought that McAleese must have been struck by a heavy blow across the mouth and nose. VICTIM NOT QUARRELSOME

McAleese, who was of a very cheerful disposition, was about 5 feet 9 inches in height, and of slight build. He was well liked and was a splendid worker and not of a quarrelsome disposition. He had been employed on the Job at Papamoa Hill for about four weeks, and had been employed for some 15 months by the Public Works Department. McAleese had been working with Mr. Lappin and Makarini. Makarini lived at Whitikau, Mr. Lappin on the Papamoa Hill near the top, while McAleese lived about three-quarters of a mile on the Opotiki side from the top of the hill. The scene of the tragedy is about a mile from the top of Papamoa Hill, on the Opotiki side. The distance to the latter town is about 26 miles. The body was found about 15 yards from a bend, the next bend being about 30 yards further on. The spot is well hidden from other parts of the road. Interviewed this morning. Detective McLeod stated that the circumstances surrounding the death of McAleese remain an absolute mystery. SUICIDE THEORY SCOUTED In some quarters the theory of suicide has been suggested, but the evidence is strongly against any sucli suggestion. Had McAleese shot himself he could not have divided the rifle in two and then placed it in the sack m which it was found. Against the suicide theory is also the fact that the shirt which he was wearing over a 'iflglet had no bullet hole in it, and * man committing suicide would not e ttkeJy to pull a shirt on afterwards a£ id button it up. NO APPARENT MOTIVE A motive for the crime—if it is a mme—is the most difficult to sugsest5 est - Robbery does not seem likely. •icAleese was a single man with no la tires in New Zealand, so far as is nown - He had been in regular employa nd may have saved a considere Portion of his wages. Robbery, however, cannot be discounted as a motive, a * *lthough the average workman fl3€s no * go to work with a large *um of money in his pocket, it is Quite possible that a careful man prefer doing this to leaving ■behind in his hut while he was at work.

deliberately SHOT POLICE INSPECTOR’S VIEW POINT BLANK RANGE Press Association GISBORNE. To-day. biornf* 0101 °'Halloran stated this Woaum t * lac t * le w hole affair of Papa*s shrouded in mystery. There “® co suggestion that McAleese

had committed suicide, but it was perfectly clear that he had been deliberately shot at close range. He and members of his staff were making every possible inquiry, particularly "with a view to ascertaining if any persons other than those already accounted for had been anywhere in the locality at the time. So far, added the Inspector, the police have been able to learn of only one motor-car passing along the road during the hour McAleese was separated front his mates and no report has been received of other persons in the vicinity. Death was caused by a shot from a pea-rifle which passed clean through his heart and came out near the back of his shoulder. The dead man had been severely battered about the face, a cut on his upper lip extending right to the base of his nose. RIFLE BELONGED TO DEAD MAN The pea-rifle, which belonged to McAleese and had been broken, was placed in a sack and was found lyingin the water-table on the opposite side of the road, 16ft from the body. Only one shot had been fired, examination not supporting tbe previous suggestion that a second bullet was responsible for the wound on the face. OPENING OF INQUEST NO TALK OF SUICIDE VERY SERIOUS CASE (From Our Own Correspondent) OPOTIKI, Today. The inquest was opened at Opotiki this morning by Mr. F. J. Short, coroner, and a jury of six. Inspector O’Halloran, Gisborne, appeared for the police. Patrick Fitzpatrick, Public Works Department labourer, said he had known McAleese over two years. His father and mother lived at Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland. Witness believed they were still alive. He had been, on and off, in McAleese’s company for the last two or three years. ALWAYS VERY BRIGHT McAleese was a sober man and not quarrelsome in any way. Witness knew of no one that he was on bad terms with. He never spoke of being tired of life and always seemed very bright, and had not mentioned any disappointment in life. Witness identified the body as that of McAleese. Harold Herbert Atkinson, Public Works Department clerk, said he first saw the body lying stretched out on its back at the side of the road. Somebody had apparently moved the body before he got there. McAleese was a very steady mail, and a good worker, and very cheerful. Witness knew of no enemies. McAleese had never given any indication that he had any idea of doing away with himself. Inspector O’Hallorau said it was a very serious case and the police wished to make further inquiries. He asked for an adjournment sine die, and the coroner acted on his suggestion.