BODY IN SUITCASE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20493, 9 May 1938, Page 8

BODY IN SUITCASE

POLICE ARE BAFFLED THREE STAB WOUNDS APPARENT IDENTIFICATION (By Telegram-—Press Association) BLENHEIM, Sunday. Bearing three wounds by stabbing In the vlolnity of the heart, the headless and legless body of an elderly slimly-bullt man was found packed In a fibre suitcase floating underneath the Plcton Wharf *at about noon on Saturday. An unemployment levy book found in the coat pocket when the body was examined by a detective late In the afternoon disclosed that it was the property of Mr Edwin Armstrong, of 20 Hinau Road, Hataltal, Wellington, who according to Information given to the police from Wellington, was last seen at 8.30 o’clock on Friday morning when his wife and two sons left for their work In the city. Nothing has yet been established by the police Inquiries to fix the identity of the person responsible for what to be one of the most brutal and unusual murders In the criminal history of New Zealand, but the early discovery of the body, together with the apparent proofs of identification contained In the' pockets and clothes, have speedily opened up a well-defined field for Investigation.

The body itself could not have been in the' water for any lengthy period, probably not more than 12 hours. The opinion is held that death took place within a fairly short period from the time of the discovery of the remains. Yarious factors suggest that the dead man met his fate in Wellington not long after he was last seen alive at his home, that the head and legs were removed in order that the trunk would fit tire suitcase, and that the person disposing of the corpse caught the Tamahine. which sailed at 2.45 p.m. on Friday for Picton. The necessity for catching the Tamahine for Picton on Friday afternoon presumably left no time for the murderer to remove Hie clothing or clear the pockets of the deceased, or else this precaution to hide the identity of the victim was considered unnecessary or was overlooked.

Cast into the harbour during Friday night the case apparently floated about unseen under the wharf until the rising tide about mid-day on Saturday carried it to where it was seen bumping against the stringer of a heavy wooden buffer structure surrounding the concrete wharf. Human Hand Seen The discovery was made by two seamen of the Shaw, Savill and Albion cargo liner Pakeha, which was on tho opposite side of the wharf to the Tamahine. They were engaged in painting the side of the Pakeha, and saw the fibre suitcase half submerged between the ship and the wharf. They immediately investigated, but in recovering the cafce some of the sodden fabric tore away and the men were horror stricken to observe a human hand inside. The boatswain, Mr J. Robertson, had the Picton police called. In the presence of Constables Harper and Roberts the case was hauled to the wharf. It was then removed to the mortuary to await a full examination by experts. Police Arrive In Plane In the meantime the crew of the Pakeha werg mustered by the master, Captain S. Oswald, and it was found that all were accounted for. Captain Sharpe, of the Picton-Wellington ferry steamer Tamahine, also informed the police that all his crew were aboard. The Tamahine returned to Wellington shortly after the body was found. Senior-Sergeant Smyth, of Blenheim, immediately informed Inspector F. Lewin, of Nelson, of the discovery. Arrangements were made for a party of Wellington detectives to proceed to Picton. Detective-Sergeants W. McLennan and W. R. Murray and SeniorSergeant W. Dinnie, police photographer, arrived in Blenheim in. a specially chartered aeroplane, and went on by car to Picton, arriving shortly before 5 p.m. Inspector Lewin and Detective Hayhurst, of Nelson, arrived by car. Description of Find The detective's examination of the suitcase revealed it to be of fibre manufacture, of a type reinforced bylight under-bands and a steel frame. In size it was approximately 30in. by 18in. Round it was tied a length of quarter-inch thick white rope, having some similarity to sash cord, and several lengths of thinner rope, traversing the case twice from top to bottom and once round.

The clothing on the body comprised a dark suit, the actual colour uncertain, as the result of immersion in the water, two shirts, a fairly heavy longsleeved sing Let and a scarf worn as a body belt and pinned with a safety pin. The coat and waistcoat and the shirts and singlet all showed small cuts over the left side of the chest, consistent with stab marks. When the body itself was examined it was seen that the region near the heart had been stabbed three times with great strength. At least one of the thrusts must have pierced the heart. Recent Dismemberment The Instrument must have had a narrow blade, like a dagger or stiletto. In the inside right pocket of the coat was an unemployment levy book bearing the' name of E. Armstrong, 20 Hinau Road, Hataitai. The last levy had been paid at Wellington on May 3. The contents of the other pockets included a medical prescription by a Hataitai doctor made out to Mr Armstrong. There was also a small sum in silver and copper, a small green and orange coloured handkerchief, and in the hip pocket of the trousers a one pound note pinned to the lining. The actual amputation of the head and legs appeared to have been executed cleanly, necessitating the use probably of both a sharp knife or razor and a saw. The head was removed .just above tlie collar and the legs at the top of the thigh. It seemed almost certain that the dismemberment had taken place fairly recently. A severe cut was found on the right wrist and an abrasion on the right little finger.

Motive a Mystery Police information from Wellington Is that Mr Armstrong was aged 55 years, an accountant by profession, but had been unemployed. During the past seven years he had resided in Wellington. He was a native of Scotland and lived in Dunedin before going to Wellington in 1931. A detailed personal description of the victim is as follows: —About sft Sin. in height, slight build, bald-headed and wearing dark clothes. The police are requesting that anyone knowing anything of the missing man's movements from the time he was last seen by 'his wife and family should communicate with them. At this juncture the whole affair is a complete mystery as to motive. A peculiar feature of the case is that there is no definite' proof of the cause of death, owing to the absence of the head. A search for tlie missing members of the body will no doubt be an important phase of police activity. The' deceased is described as a man of quiet disposition and with few friends. A post-mortem examination will be conducted by the Government pathologist. Dr. P. I*. Lynch, who arrives from Dunedin to-morrow by air. An inquest will he opened to-rmf.ow evening, after the arrival on the Tamahine of one of Mr Armstrong's sons, who is expected to he able to identify the clothing which was on the body. Opportunity will also be taken to secure the evidence of members of the crew of the Pakeha, which sails for Wellington to-morrow.