SIXTH VICTIM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1941, Page 6

SIXTH VICTIM

DEATH OF CONSTABLE BEST.' FROM INJURIES IN FIRST CLASH. FUNERALS OF HOME GUARDSMEN (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HOKITIKA, October 12. The -sixth victim of the shootings died on Saturday morning in the Westland hospital. This was Constable Edward Mark Best, who had been shot in the first clash on Wednesday. Constable Best was extremely popular in the Koiterangi district. The funerals of the Home Guardsmen, Messrs R. J. M. Coulson and G. Hutchison, were held today and almost everyone in Hokitika and many outside visitors attended. There were huge crowds in the procession on foot and in the cars which followed the hearses, including a parade of Home Guardsmen who were not out at Koiterangi. Hundreds of wreaths were sent. SIGNS & TRACES INDICATIONS OF FUGITIVE BEING WOUNDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HOKITIKA, October 12. In spite of the visits of Graham to the scene of the two tragedies on at least four occasions, doubts are expressed by some local residents that Graham, will put in an appearance tonight, because of his apparent loss of blood and resultant weakness, but it is apparent from his present frame of mind that nothing would stop him

from continuing in his most daring practices of returning to his home. It was known from the singlet recovered from Smith’s hut that Graham had received a fairly severe wound un ( der the armpit of his left side and it is now thought highly probable that he received further wounds from rifle fire in this morning’s encounter. Credence is given to this theory by the fact that over the path of Graham’s getaway which is indicated by a trail of blood, there are three distinct pools of fresh blood indicating that Graham had un-» doubtedly halted momentarily. In addition there was a trace of flesh on a rush. On the other hand there is a possibility of Graham having restarted the flow of blood from the wound inflicted in Wednesday night’s encounter.