SHOOTING OF ROADMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 663, 15 May 1929, Page 1

SHOOTING OF ROADMAN

Police Hold Murder Theory disclosures at inquest expected (From Our Resident Reporter) OPOTIKI, Today. IMPORTANT developments are expected in connection with the death of the surfaceman, Samuel McAleese, at Papamoa Hill. Theories that death was the result of accident or suicide now seem highly improbable and the general opinion is that McAleese was deliberately shot. An arrest is believed to be imminent.

man on horseback The heavy rain which has been falling here since yesterday is making the task of further investigation into the Papamoa mystery an unpleasant one. The police are doing their best to trace all persons seen on or travelling over the Opotiki-Motu Road on the clay of the tragedy. Increased interest in the inquiries has been aroused by a rumour to the effect that a stranger on horseback had used the road on the day in question, but on investigation it was revealed that at the time it is piesu?ned McAleese was murdered he was a considerable distance from the scene, and that McAleese’s mates were between him and McAleese. POLICE ACTIVITY The rifle and other articles which were sent to Auckland on Sunday are expected to be returned here tomorrow, together with the experts’ reports. It is expected that as soon as they arrive there will be increased police activity, together with the likelihood of important developments. From inquiries made to the police this morning it is expected that all inquiries will be completed in a few days. With the discovery that the bullet had also penetrated the shirt many people thought it possible that McAleese was killed accidentally or had committed suicide, as wheu it was found the discharged cartridge was in the barrel half of the pea-rifle. There seems no possible chance that any falling stone could have set off the cart-

ridge and the police discredit chances of any bullet holes in the sack. SUDDEN QUARREL There is no doubt whatever that McAleese was deliberately shot. Various motives have been suggested for the crime, the only feasible one being that there was a sudden quarrel with some person or persons unknown, resulting in the shooting of McAleese with his own rifle. Another fact which disproves any suicide theory is that the body had been moved before being discovered by “Scotty” Lappin. The evidence points to the fact of the body having been turned round. Important developments are expected here any hour, with the likelihood of an early arrest. In addition to Inspector O’Halloran, Detective McLeod and Acting-Detec-tive King, of Gisborne, the following police officials are engaged in the investigations: Detective Walsh, Wanganui; Detective Knight, Auckland; Detective White, Hamilton; Sergeant McAllister, Constable Breed, Opotiki; and Constable Basken, Motu. Exhaustive searches down the cliff from the roadside at the scene of the shooting failed to find any trace of anything likely to have been used to strike McAleese across the face. The fact that the shovel used by McAleese while working on the road showed evidence of having been washed suggests that the shovel was used to strike McAleese. The deep gash on the upper lip and the broken nose are consistent with the theory that he was hit by the shovel besides being shot. It is expected there will be important disclosures at the reopening of the inquest, which is likely to occur any day.