PICTON MURDER MYSTERY

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20494, 10 May 1938, Page 8

PICTON MURDER MYSTERY

SON OF VICTIM ARRESTED PASSENGER ON AUCKLAND EXPRESS (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. There was a sensational turn to the Picton murder this morning when Douglas Alexander Armstrong, a son of the murdered man, was arrested as he stepped off the Limited express at 9.30, and was immediately charged with the murder of his father. The arrest was made by Detective Turgiss and ActingDetectives Cromwell and Grace. This morning’s train carried more passengers than usual and all were closely scrutinised by the police officers. With only a circulated description as a guide the detectives were able to select their man from the scores of young men who alighted from the train. The next step was to establish identity by means of questions. The young man was then arrested and formally charged with the murder of his father. No difficulty was experienced in the actual arrest and when the charge was read over to him Armstrong appeared quite calm and made no comment. He was then brought to the police station by the three detectives to be held in custody until the Court sitting this afternoon. For several days a police drag-net was cast over the whole of New Zealand, in the course of* which thousands of people have been scrutinised. The arrested man had no luggage. On his arrival he was dressed in a dark blue suit and had a sum of money in his possession. No train or steamer ticket was found in his pocket.