SUITCASE MURDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1938, Page 7

SUITCASE MURDER

SON OF VICTIM CHARGED IN AUCKLAND REMANDED TO WELLINGTON. TAKEN SOUTH LAST NIGHT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 10. Douglas Armstrong, who was arrested in Auckland today on his arrival by the Limited express from Wellington, on a charge of murdering his father, Edwin Armstrong, appeared at 2.35 this afternoon before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court. Accused was wearing a blue serge suit, blue and white thin-striped shirt and was without collar or tie. Immediately he was placed in the dock the clerk of the court read the charge:—“Douglas Alexander Armstrong, you are charged that, at Wellington on the sixth day of May, 1938, you did murder one Edwin Armstrong.”

Detective-Sergeant McHugh: “In this case I ask for a remand for accused to appear at Wellington tomorrow.” The magistrate remanded accused to appear- in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, tomorrow at 10 a.m. The proceedings occupied just on 30 seconds, and accused then turned and disappeared into the prisoners’ room, to be returned to the police station in the motor-car which had brought him to the court. The charge sheet gave Scotland as the country of accused's birth.

Very few persons at the Auckland railway station tonight noticed the arrival of Douglas Armstrong and his police escort when he boarded the Limited express for Wellington. None of the other passengers in his carriage seemed to be aware of his identity. Armstrong was taken to the station in an ordinary touring car and, to ensure as little notice being taken of his arrival as possible, he was driven round to the mail platform near the Limited’s departure platform before being escorted to a seat on the train. He was handcuffed to acting-Detective E. M. Grace, with Detective W. E. Turgis also in attendance, and little notice was taken of him as he walked composedly up the platform between the detectives. A ' light raincoat thrown over the handcuffs formed an effective concealment of Armstrong’s captivity, and he and Detective Grace merely seemed to be assisting each other to carry some luggage. The prisoner was wearing a collar and tie, this being the only difference from his appearance in the Magistrates’ Court in the afternoon. He had no personal luggage. Three seats near the back of second-class carriage “B,” the second car from the engine, had been reserved for the party. Armstrong is a fine type of young man in appearance, being about sft lOin in height, and of refined features, although his hands show signs of the trade he follows. It is understood his hands were one of the means of identification when he was accosted by detectives.

POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, May 10. Considerable importance attaches to the post-mortem which will be conducted by Dr P. P. Lynch, Government pathologist, who arrived by air about noon. It is hoped that his examination will establish for one thing whether the stab wounds on the body, at least one of which could have been fatal, were actually the cause of death or whether they were inflicted after death.

Authority for the burial of the body was issued- after the inquest last night, but it is not yet certain whether the interment will be at Picton or Wellington.

Dragging operations have not yet been begun at the Picton wharf for the missing head and legs. These operations will probably begin after the departure of the Tamahine and Pakeha today. ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 11. Handcuffed to Acting-Detective E. M. Grace, with a light raincoat thrown over his hands to conceal his captivity, Douglas Armstrong alighted from the Limited express shortly after 9.45 o’clock this morning. Detective W. E. Turgis was also in attendance. A fairly large crowd was at the station. Outwardly Armstrong appeared quite calm. He was wearing a navy blue suit, with no overcoat. He appeared as if merely helping another man to carry a case. He was led to a police van immediately.