FOUND BY DIVER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1938, Page 7

FOUND BY DIVER

HEAD & LEGS OF MISSING MAN MAKING IDENTIFICATION POSSIBLE. IMPORTANT NEW EVIDENCE IN ARMSTRONG CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association. BLENHEIM, May 12. In a brown fibre suitcase, tied with ropes, the head and legs of a human body were recovered by a diver this afternoon near the Picton Wharf, where the mutilated body of a man, believed to be Mr E. Armstrong, Hataitai, Wellington, was found on Saturday in a floating suitcase. The second suitcase, with its grisly contents, was located at 3.7 p.m. in 40 feet of water at the outer end of the wharf, near where the Tamahine. from Wellington, berthed on Friday night. ■With the successful conclusion of another stage in the extensive police activity that has been maintained since the find of a week ago, it will no doubt be possible to establish definitely the identity of the unfortunate man who came to such a grim end.

Examination of the head recovered this afternoon discloses that it bears marks indicating that it was battered by some blunt instrument. Whether these injuries were substantially the cause of death or whether they were inflicted afterward, only a post-mor-tem examination by an expert can prove. It is believed to be a fact that one or more of the stab wounds found on the body in the region of the heart could have been fatal, and it is anticipated that, the recent examination of the Government pathologist, Dr P. P. Lynch, disclosed whether they were inflicted before or after death.

Naturally the authorities are not revealing the results of Dr. Lynch’s examination until the proper time, but every importance attaches to the opinion he forms regarding the head wounds, taken in conjunction with the chest stabs, in the direction of reconstructing the means by which the man. believed to be Edwin Armstrong, died.

The remains found today were contained in a dark brown fibre suitcase, identical in most respects, including white cordage lashings, with the receptacle recovered six days ago. Diving opei-ations were carried out by Mr T. K. Wineera, who was placed at the disposal of the Police Department by the Wellington Harbour Board. He arrived, with his assistant, Mr O. Jensen, and equipment, on the Tamahine last night.

Working from a punt moored at the end of the wharf, the diver concentrated on the area of the harbour bottom, where detectives evidently decided it was most likely that the person who disposed of the packages would have thrown them over after disembarking from the Tamahine on Friday night. He searched for two hours and a half in the morning fruitlessly, and was down nearly two hours in the afternoon before he was rewarded with

success. When the suitcase was hauled up by a line attached by the diver, the detectives soon satisfied themselves that it was the object they were seeking. The punt was then towed to the landing jetty and the remains were removed to the morgue in a police car. A preliminary examination was subsequently made by Dr. E. B. W. Smyth, Picton, who has not yet reported to the police. The coroner will view the remains tomorrow. The inquest will be resumed soon at Picton, when evidence will be given by Dr. Lynch.