FINAL SCENES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1941, Page 6

FINAL SCENES

IN WEST COAST iVJURDER DRAMA GRAHAM TO BE BURIED TODAY. INQUEST FORMALLY OPENED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HOKITIKA, October 21. Stanley Graham’s wife, who had seen him for a few minutes shortly after his admission to hospital last evening, was with her husband when he died. About midnight Mrs Graham, with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Cummings, went to the hospital, and remained there till the last. Also present were the Rev and Mrs C. D. Childs, Hokitika. The district has shown remarkable resiliency, and went cheerfully today about its nonmal tasks. In every home the ordinary routine was thankfully re-established, and children who in some cases had been absent a fortnight from their homes, returned. An inquest was opened on Graham today, when formal evidence of identification was given. More formal evidence will be heard tomorrow, when the inquest will be reopened and adjourned. It is not yet known when the inquests into the deaths of Graham’s victims will be reopened, as the police have still some details of evidence to arrange for. Graham’s funeral will take place tomorrow. MINISTER’S THANKS TO SEARCHERS AND ALL WHO ASSISTED. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE COMPLIMENTED. IBy Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 21. “The Commissioner of Police, Mr Cummings, undoubtedly has been the master-mind behind the organisation in the hunt for Graham, and itl is due to his coolness in planning and his patience that Graham was captured without further loss of life,” said the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, today. “The Commissioner, his officers and men, Home Guards, Territorials, and the women of the district who cooked for the searchers, are entitled to the country’s admiration for their part in | the search.” Mr Webb was Acting Minister in Charge of Police during the absence of Mr Fraser, and at the Prime Minister’s request shortly after the first deaths occured, he visited the scene of the tragedy in company with the Commissioner of Police.