NAPIER SHOOTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1938, Page 8

NAPIER SHOOTING

DIVER RECOVERS RIFLE FROM HARBOUR ALLEGEDLY USED AGAINST MRS AVES (By telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER, October 4. A rifle, from which the bullet which caused the death of Mrs Annie Isobel Aves was allegedly fired, was recovered by a Napier Harbour Board diver from the bottom of Napier Harbour this afternoon. The diving operations, under the supervision of Detective-Sergeant Nuttall, who has reason to believe that the rifle had been thrown into the sea, were begun this morning and continued until the lunch hour. About five minutes after the diver went down this afternoon he recovered the weapon in deep water about 30 yards seaward from the western end of the new wharf abutment. The police understand that the rifle was thrown into the sea at about midnight on Sunday. It was also reported today that the police have recovered the bullet which is alleged to have caused Mrs Aves’s death. It was found lodged near the front door of her home. Inspector D. Cameron, who is in charge of the Napier 'Police district, said today that it was unlikely that the hearing of the charge against Colin Herbert Hercock of attempting to murder Mrs Aves would be proceeded with next Monday. It was probable, said Inspector Cameron, that the police would seek a further remand and in the meantime the question of bringing a fresh charge against Hercock would be considered. An inquest into the death of Mrs Aves was opened before the coronet, Mr J. Miller, S.M., this afternoon, and after evidence of identification haa been given, was adjourned.