THE AUCKLAND MYSTERY.

Wairarapa Age, 23 March 1920, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND MYSTERY.

The Ponsouby Murder.

ARTICLES FOUND BY POLICE.

(By Eleotrio Telegraph.—Oopyright.) AUCKLAND, Last Nighty As a result of investigations in connection with tho murder and robbery at Ponsonby, the police found in a gully in tho vicinity of Howo Street, among a dense growth of blackberries, three large calibre revolvers, a large quantity of ammunition, a burglar's jemmy, about £25 in money, and other articles, including Mr. Braithwaite 's private keys to his office and of the strong-room at the Ponsonby Post Office; also the keys to the front door of his residence, a cancelled postal note, known to be part proceeds of the robbery, and a£s note. Only one £5 note was stolen from the Post Office. The articles were contained in three canvas bags, two of them such as are commonly used in banks for holding coin. The third bag is believed to be portion of the criminal's outfit, known as a sandbag. Tho detectives also have in their possession a handbag that belonged to Mr. Braithwaite, and which is supposed to havo been taken by the murderer when leaving liia victim's residence. The bag, apparently, was found to contain nothing of value, and was thrown over a fence in the vicinity of Mr. Braithwaite's house.

As a result of exhaustive investigations, it is now believed that Mr. Braithwaite was first attacked when standing in the kitchen 'facing the mantelpiece, with his back to the door, which was almost invariably kept open when either Mr. or Mrs. Braithwaite was at home. On the evening of the crime Mr. Braithwaite evidently had been in the house a few minutes before he was disturbed, and had deposited his hat, stick, and bag in the places in which they were usually kept. He wound up the clock on the kitchen mantelpiece, and it is surmised that he had finished with the clock „when a shot was fired at his back, which missed him and struck the mantelpiece. It is believed he turned and faced the b'ack door, and received the two shots that killed him. The theory that the first shot missed, the victim is supported by the statement of a person in an adjoining house, who says a cry was heard after the first shot was fired. The presence of the key of Mr. Braithwaito's residence among the articles recovered by the detectives on Saturday is accounted for by the fact that Mr. Braithwaite always carried the key of the front door. This,' evidently was taken from his pockets together with the Post Office keys.