Edwin John Blakeway, (1906-23/8/1931). "alongside a bicycle"

RAILWAY CLERK'S DEATH

(By Telegraph: — Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. 

Edwin John Blakeway, aged 26, a booking clerk at the railway station, was found dead alongside a bicycle early this morning on the Longburn-Karere road. The deceased was a wellknown amateur cyclist and participated in a road race on Saturday. The cause of death is believed to be due to natural causes, but that has not been definitely ascertained.  -Evening Post, 24/8/1931.

CYCLIST FOUND SHOT. — Mr. Edwin John Blakeway, whose body was found five miles from Palmerston North, alongside his cycle. Investigation showed that he had been shot, robbery being presumed as the motive. Deceased was a prominent racing cyclist.  -Auckland Star, 25/8/1931.

CYCLIST SHOT.

BODY FOUND ON ROAD. 

PALMERSTON NORTH TRAGEDY. 

BOBBERY BELIEVED TO BE MOTIVE. 

NO ARREST YET MADE. 

(By Telegraph. — Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON N., this day. 

The police are convinced that Edwin John Blakeway, a railway clerk, aged 26, who was found dead on the Longburn-Karere Road early yesterday morning, was murdered. A post mortem examination revealed bullet wounds in the hand, wrist, chest and head. It is believed that the shots were fired from either a repeating rifle or an automatic revolver, five empty cartridge shells having been found at the scene of the occurrence.

The finder of the body was Mr. H. G. Leng-Ward, a newspaper canvasser, of Palmerston North. Mr. Leng-Ward stated that when motoring along the Karere Road he stopped to examine a racing bicycle lying in the middle of the road. He then saw the fully dressed body of a young man lying face downwards on the grass at the side of the road. Blood was congealed at his nose and ears, whilst there were also marks of blood on his left hand. Mr. Leng-Ward immediately telephoned for the police and a doctor.

At the time the crime was perpetrated deceased was cycling back to Palmerston North. He apparently was hailed from the side of the road, dismounted and went back and was shot. He had been to Karere to visit Miss Betty Meehan, with whom he was friendly. He left the house at 11 p.m. The girl accompanied the deceased to the gate and returned to the house.

He was then wearing gloves. These were not on his hands when his body was' found, but were clasped in his right hand, which was clutched near his heart. The indications are that deceased tried to prevent his assailant shooting him, this accounting for the shots in his hand and wrist. He is believed to have had a roll of bank notes in his possession. These were not on the body when it was found.

The investigations show that there were five bullet wounds on the body, two on one hand close together, another at the side of the wrist of the other forearm, one through the chest and one behind the bridge of the nose. 

One Point Blank Shot.

It has been definitely established by the police that deceased was shot from the side of the road. The assailant apparently lay in wait. These facts are apparent from the direction which some of the bullets entered the body. It has been fairly accurately determined that at least one shot was fired at point blank-range from in front of the deceased and when found the body was lying face downwards with the head facing the direction in which he was proceeding.

The body was stretched straight out, except for the neck, which was hunched close to the shoulders, giving rise to the belief that after being shot, deceased was dragged or probably lifted under the arms to the place w:here he was found.

A significant feature is the discovery of the five empty cartridges at the scene of the crime. Four were picked up alongside the bicycle, which was six yards distant from the body. The bullet punctures in the body from a gun of small calibre are believed to have been fired from an automatic revolver or highpowered repeating rifle. 

Sound as of Groaning.

None of the occupants of Mr. R. Tanner's house, which is fifteen chains away, heard sounds of shots, but Miss Tanner, on retiring at 11.15 p.m., heard two sounds like long-drawn-out groans. These she attributed to stock on the farm. A lady friend, staying in the house, heard an indefinable noise about the same time.

Deceased arrived here from Otaki a fortnight ago on relieving duty as a railway booking clerk. He had an exceedingly happy personality and was very popular with his fellow-employees. Otaki people describe him as a man who would never make enemies. He is reported to have been in the habit of carrying money. He is known to have taken it with him when he left for Karere on Sunday evening, but when the body was found only one shilling and ninepencc was in his clothes. 

Carried Large Sums of Money. 

Blakeway never took liquor. It was his custom to cycle to Karere practically every night to meet Miss Meehan. On at least one occasion last week he attended a dance at Longburn. He was known to be carrying a lot of money, including at least one £10 note. It was his almost unfailing custom to carry a large sum of money, and during the week-end he was several times observed with a roll of notes.

Deceased competed in an amateur cycle race at Palmerston North on Saturday afternoon. He had signified his intention of proceeding to Wanganui for the week-end, but returned to his place of residence unexpectedly. He went out again the same evening and returned very late. During Sunday he made a 89-mile cycle ride to Hukanui and back, returning at 6 p.m. He then mentioned that he had a fall, but had suffered no injury. That evening he said he was late for an appointment at Karere. A few minutes before he left he was known to have placed at least £20 in his pocket. He did not change his clothes. Deceased spent a happy evening with the Meehan family.

The fatality occurred about one hundred yards from an adjacent crossroad, where the cyclist would have made a turn come into Palmerston North, via Boundary Road, or would have continued on to the Foxton line, and then into town.

On the other side of the road from where the body was found there is a deep drain with fair depth of water in the bottom.

Formerly in Auckland.

L. J. Blakeway was formerly stationed in Auckland in the employment of the New Zealand Railways, and was a prominent competitor in road races conducted by the Manakau Amateur Cycling Club. During the 1926 season he registered fastest time on two occasions, once when riding from scratch and another time when off 15s. He was placed second to W T Bray, who won an 11 mile race that way. His principle success on the tracks was the winning of the two-mile Auckland provincial championship in 1927.  -Auckland Star, 25/8/1931.

MURDER CRIME NEAR PALMERSTON NORTH

Young Railway Clerk Shot. 

ROBBERY THE MOTIVE. 

Palmerston North. August 25. 

A veil of mystery which shrouded the death of Edwin John Blakeway, whose body was found near his racing bicycle at 7.40 o'clock yesterday morning, was lifted sufficiently this evening to disclose that it was a ease of murder with robbery as the motive. The man had ben shot. Mr Blakeway was a prominent amateur cyclist, aged 26 years, and single. He was a booking clerk in the Palmerston North railway station. His parents reside at Upper Riccarton, Christchurch.

The body was found on the Longbush-Karere Road, near Lockwood, five miles from Palmerston North, by Mr H. G. Leng-Ward, a canvasser, of Palmerston North. Mr Leng-Ward staled that when motoring along the Karere Road he slopped to examine a racing bicycle lying in the middle of the road. He then saw the fully dressed body of a young man lying face downwards on the grass at the side of the road. A good deal of blood was in evidence. Mr Leng-Ward immediately telephoned to the police and a doctor. The first theory was that death was probably due to a fall from the machine or other accidental cause.

A post-mortem examination disclosed that death has been caused by at least four bullet wounds in the nose, chest and wrist from a gun of small calibre. Later indications point to a struggle at the point where the body was found.  -Bay of Plenty Times, 25/8/1931.

FUNERAL NOTICE.

THE Funeral of the late Edwin John Blakeway will leave the residence of his parents, Christchurch, on Thursday, August 27, at 2.30 p.m. 

KELLS AND PERRIN, LTD, Funeral Directors. Palmerston North.  -Dominion, 26/8/1931.

THE KARERE MURDER.

The police are continuing their investigations into the murder of Edwin John Blakeway, the cyclist who was found early on Monday morning shot dead on the roadside at Karere. No arrest has yet been made. It was learned to-day that there had come into the possession of the deceased a letter threatening to kill him. The shots are believed to have been fired from a. revolver. —Palmerston North Association telegram.  -Evening Star, 26/8/1931.

Police Investigating

FACTS POINT TO MURDER 

The police are assiduously conducting investigations into the affair. The facts, so far, point to murder, but it is difficult at present to find a motive for the crime. Rumour had it yesterday that deceased was in the habit of carrying a roll of notes with him, but while this may be true, it is known that when he left his sister's place at Hukanui on Sunday afternoon, he had only a half-crown in his pockets. 

EDWIN BLAKEWAY RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.

 PALMERSTON N., Aug. 25.

The police are now convinced that Edwin Blakeway, who was found dead on the Longburn-Karere Road early yesterday morning, was murdered. 

A post-mortem examination revealed bullet-wounds in the hand, wrist, chest and head. 

It is believed that the shots were fired either from a repeating rifle or an automatic revolver. Five empty cartridge-shells were found at the scene of the crime. 

At the time that the crime was perpetrated, the deceased was cycling back to Palmerston North. Apparently he was hailed from the side of the road, he dismounted, went back and was shot. 

When the deceased left the house of the friend near-by, he was wearing gloves. These were not on his hands when his body was found, but his hands were clasped underneath him. 

The indications point to the deceased having tried to prevent his assailant from shooting him, this accounting for the shots in the hand and wrist. 

Deceased is believed to have had a roll of notes in his possession. These were not on the body. 

SHOT FROM SIDE OP ROAD. 

BODY EVIDENTLY DRAGGED SOME DISTANCE. 

PALMERSTON N., Aug. 25. 

Six bullet-wounds were found on Blakeway's body; two on one hand, close together, another on the side of the wrist; another on the forearm, the fifth through the chest; and the sixth behind the bridge of the nose. 

It has been definitely established by the police that the deceased was shot from the side of the road by his assailant, who had apparently lain in wait for him. This conclusion is based on the direction in which some of the bullets entered the body; but it has been fairly accurately determined that at least one shot was fired point-blank from in front of the deceased.

When found, the body was lying face downwards, with the head facing in the direction that he had been proceeding. The body was stretched straight out, with the exception of the neck, which was hunched close to the shoulders, indicating the belief that, after being shot, the deceased was dragged, or probably lifted under the arms, to the place where his body was found.

A significant feature is the discovery of five empty cartridges at the scene of the crime. Four were picked up alongside the cycle, which was six yards distant from the body.

The bullet punctures in the body are from a gun of small calibre, and are believed to have been fired from an automatic revolver or a high-powered repeating rifle. 

SHOTS FIRED AT CLOSE RANGE. 

STRUCK ON HEAD. 

ROBBERY APPARENTLY NOT MOTIVE.

BODY TAKEN TO CHRISTCHURCH. 

LATER. The murder of Mr Edwin John Blakeway, railway clerk, on the Longnurn-Karere road on Sunday night continued to be the chief topic of conversation yesterday. Many rumours were abroad, including one that an arrest had been made, but up till a late hour last evening, nobody had been apprehended for the crime. The police are still conducting their investigations.  -Otaki Mail, 26/8/1931.

MAN QUESTIONED.

Developments in Blakeway Shooting Case. 

THE ROBBERY MOTIVE. 

(Special to the “Star.") PALMERSTON August 25. 

The working up of a jealousy motive by detectives was a feature of yesterday’s developments in connection with the shooting of Edwin John Blakeway. No arrest has yet been made, though late on Monday evening a resident of a nearby settlement was brought to police headquarters, relieved of a pea-rifle and bullets and subjected to questioning. He was able to furnish a sufficiently strong alibi to compel his release. The police also probably broke down over a discrepancy in the markings of the ejected cartridge shells. The bullets fired from the murderer’s weapon were ejected squarely from the centre of the firing point, whilst bullets fired from the questioned man’s rifle revealed a different shell marking. 

The latest developments definitely point to the fact that deceased dismounted from his bicycle and laid it carefully down before walking towards his attacker. The latter fired four shots from the roadside, in the course of which deceased removed his cycling gloves, presumably in order to grapple with his assailant. The fifth shot was fired at point-blank range. One bullet passed through the inside corner of the right eye, one squarely through the chest, high up, two through the back of the right hand and one through the left wrist. 

Five empty shells of small-arm calibre were found beside the front wheel of the bicycle, which was exactly six yards from the body when found face downward, the right hand pressing the gloves to the heart and the left hand shielding the wound in the eye. 

Robbery Motive. 

It is now known that the detectives are turning more actively to a robbery motive, but there is lack of what they call positive proof of the presence of money on deceased when he was shot. On the other hand, there is the positive affirmation of deceased’s landlady that he carried thirty pounds when on his last ride on his model racing bicycle. The body is being removed to Christchurch for burial. The date of the inquest has not been decided.

FUNERAL OF VICTIM. 

The funeral of Edwin John Blakeway, victim of the Palmerston North shooting tragedy, will leave his parents’ residence, 115, Avonhead Road, Upper Riccarton, at 2 p.m. to-morrow for the Riccarton Churchyard.  -Star, 26/8/1931.

MANY RUMOURS.

DEATH OF E. J. BLAKEWAY. 

PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM. ) PALMERSTON N., August 25.

The police are continuing their investigations into the murder of Edwin John Blakeway. 

A denial is given to the rumour that someone had been detained by the police. 

It was learned to-day that there had come into the possession of Blakeway a letter threatening to kill him. The police have been prosecuting a search for this letter, but it is not known if they have been successful. 

Two persons at least are known to have seen Blakeway with his bicycle on the side of the road shortly after 11 o'clock on the night of the tragedy. When Blakeway was found, his overcoat was fastened, with the exception pf the button at the neck. It is considered impossible for him to have crawled, after being shot, into the position where he was found. 

A report is current that bloodstains were found in the lining of each of the dead man's pockets. 

There are reasons for the belief that the shots were fired from a revolver. 

A Mailman's Story. 

A story that after delivering the mail into a box at Tiakitahuna, two miles from the scene of the tragedy, he heard the whine and crash of a rifle bullet into some object nearby was reported to the police this morning by E. I. Spiers. The incident occurred at 4 o'clock this morning when it was quite dark. Spiers said he thought at first a tyre had pinched a stone which struck the mail box, but he realised after that the read was bituminised. On the return journey he discovered a bullet hole in the mail box, and reported the matter to the police. 

Shortly after, the owner of the mail box Mr A. Matheson, arrived at the police station with the bullet, but later his wife reported that she had observed the hole in the box two days ago, yet it is strange the bullet was not discovered before. It is that Spiers heard a shot and the bullet struck another object. 

The police are pursuing their enquiries.  -Press, 27/8/1931.

SHOT MISSES MAILMAN

SCENE OF KARERE TRAGEDY. 

BULLET FOUND IN BOX 

An incident, that appears to indicate further shooting activities at Karere, where Edwin John Blakeway was murdered, was reported to the police yesterday by Mr E. F. Speirs, rural mailman, who apparently narrowly escaped being shot himself in the course of his rounds, states a "Dominion” service message from Palmerston North. 

While he was placing mail in Mr Alec Mathieson’s rural mail box at about 4.15 o’clock this morning, Mr Speirs heard something whizz by and strike tlie galvanised iron mail box. Only one noise was lieard by Mr Speirs, who, uninjured, drove on in his car. Later in the morning, when the members of Mr Mathieson’s household went to clear the mail box, no mail was found in the box, but a bullet, which quite possibly was ejected from the same weapon used in the shooting of Mr Blakeway, was found in it. 

DISCOVERY OF BULLET HOLE. 

Upon making this discovery Mr Mathieson inspected the mail box and found that a hole indicated that a bullet had diagonally entered the mail box. The hole in the mail box, however, had been noticed four or five days ago. As there was only the one hole, it appears that the bullet was fired into the box before the end of last week, and it is possible that it was made by somebody practising shooting. 

In his statement Mr Speirs said that, while he did not hear any report, he did hear something whizz by while he was placing the mail in the box. He was unaware of the fact that a bullet hole was in the box until be returned at about midday with members of the Palmerston North police force, nearly two hours after the bullet had been discovered by a member of Mr Mathieson’s household. A newspaper, also delivered by Mr Speirs, was found on the grass nearby. 

No noise was heard by anybody in Mr Mathieson’s house, which is about three chains away from the mail box on the main Foxton-Palmerston North road. 

SEARCH FOR A CLUE. 

Meanwhile the Palmerston North detectives are pursuing their investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Mr Blakeway some time between the hours of 11.15 p.m. on Sunday and 7.30 a.m. on Monday, when he was discovered with bullets in his body.

The efforts of the detectives are being directed toward the finding of the rim-fire revolver or rifle, from which the fatal shots were fired, but as it is possible for anybody to purchase a .22 rifle and ammunition without having to register the purchase, their task will be no easy one. 

The detectives are also trying to trace a man who inquired the way to Mr P. A. Meehan’s residence from a labourer employed on Mr J. Callesen’s farm, near the locality of the murder. This man, whose age may be between 21 and 35, was wearing grey flannel trousers and a grey overcoat. After having been directed toward his apparent destination he made no attempt to go to the house, and was later seen in the vicinity of the scene of the tragedy. 

Senior-Detective T. Quirke, who is in charge of the case, has nothing to report for the Press, and would make no statement beyond denying that anybody had been arrested or detained on suspicion. 

At least four people passed the scene of the tragedy shortly after 11.20 p.m. on Sunday, about the time the murder is thought to have been committed, but none of these people noticed anything suspicious or unusual. Two of these people, brothers to Miss Betty Meehan, arrived home just as Miss Meehan and Blakeway were on their way to the gate. 

While there is evidence that Mr Blakewav was in the habit of carrying a considerable sum of money about with him, it is not known if he had much in his possession at the time of the murder, but it is significant that bloodstains were found on the lining of the dead man’s pockets.  -Hawera Star, 27/8/1931.

KARERE TRAGEDY

DEATH OF E. J. BLAKEWAY. 

AN ARREST MADE. 

Following inquiries extending over several weeks, Senior-Detective Quirke and Detective-Sergeant Doyle shortly after noon to-day effected the arrest of Norman Robert Decks in connection with the tragedy at Karere in which Edwin John Blakeway lost his life. 

The arrest took place a few miles from the city in the Fitzherbert district.

The arrested man will appear before the Magistrate on Monday 7 when it is understood that the police will ask for a remand.

A tragic incident occurred during the week-end of August 23. Early 7 on Monday, August 24, the body of Mr Edwin John Blakeway, an amateur cyclist, was found on the Longburn-Karere Road in the vicinity of Lockwood. The body and the deceased man’s cycle were discovered together. 

Mr Blakeway, who was at one time a prominent amateur cyclist, was aged 26 years, and was a booking clerk at the Palmerston North railway station, a position he had held only since August 11, he previously being stationed at Otaki. On Saturday, August 22, Mr Blakeway made his first appearance in the races conducted by the Manawatu Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club. He was boarding in Palmerston North, his parents residing in Avonhead Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch.  -Manawatu Standard, 31/10/1931.

KARERE TRAGEDY

DECKE IN COUET

BAIL REFUSED

(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) PALMEBSTON N., This Day. 

Norman Robert Decke, a farm hand, aged nineteen, appeared before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., and was charged that on or about 23rd August, at Karere, he murdered Edwin John Blakeway. 

The police applied for a remand till 10th November.

Counsel for the accused asked for bail under Section 368 of the Crimes Act. This, he said, left the granting of bail in the case' of a charge of murder to the discretion of the Magistrate. The present case was not one, he contended, in which bail could not be given without the permission of the Supreme Court. 

The police strongly objected to ban. "We will be ready to proceed in a week," said Senior-Detective Quirke. 

"Unless there are special circumstances, I do not think bail should, be granted in this class of case," said Mr. Stout, who refused the application. The remand was granted.  -Evening Post, 2/11/1931.

EDWIN BLAKEWAY'S DEATH

MURDER CHARGE LOWER COURT PROCEEDINGS 

(By Telegraph — Press Association) PALMERSTON N., This Day. 

The Courthouse was crowded this morning, when Norman Robert Decke, a farm hand, aged 19 years, appeared before Mr Stout, S.M., charged with the murder at Karere on 23rd August of Edwin John Blakeway. The inquest is proceeding simultaneously, Mr Graham being on the Bench as Coroner. 

There are 41 witnesses, including seven police officials, three doctors, two gunsmiths, and one analyst. 

The hearing is expected to last three days. 

Robert Tanner, farmer, living in the vicinity of the spot where the body was found, said he heard no noises during the night of the Sunday. In consequence of something said he went along the road the next morning and saw the body. There was a considerable amount of blood on the face, hands, left wrist, and arm. There was also a considerable amount of blood on the road. It extended in several patches nine or twelve feet down the road towards the residence of witness. Blood marks were right up to the front wheel of the cycle. It did not look as if deceased had fallen off his cycle and crawled, but as if the body had been carried from the cycle and laid on the grass. The cycle looked as if laid down gently and the rider quietly dismounted. 

Replying to the Magistrate the witness said there was no sign of dragging. 

Continuing, witness said he found a discharged cartridge shell near the wheel of the cycle. Patrick Meehan, who had arrived, found a shell near the front of the cycle. These were handed to a constable. Later a son of witness found another shell.

Dr. Cyril Arnold King gave evidence as to proceeding to Karere at 8 a.m. on 24th August. The body was lying prone on the south side of the road, the head directed towards the Foxton line, and resting on the grass. The body generally was straight, the feet being nearest the metal, the left leg straight, and the right relaxed at the knee joint. 

Herbert Geoffrey Leng-Ward, newspaper runner, said he found a cycle lying on the roadway on Karere road early on the morning of 24th August about 300 yards from the intersection. Five yards further he saw the body of a man lying on the grass. The man had been. dead some time. Rain had fallen for several hours previously. The back of the body, which was lying face downwards, was soaked. 

William England, labourer, gave similar evidence. He said he met the previous witness shortly after the former had found the body. The witness said the tissues of the face had become imprinted by pressure with the pattern of the grass, showing that the body had lain for a considerable time in the position in which it was found. The fingers of the right hand were loosely flexed over the gloves still in their grasp. From the extent of the muscular rigidity death had occurred at least eight hours previously. Later the body was examined at the morgue. Four bullets of small calibre had entered it, while another had passed through the clothes. The post-mortem examination revealed the perforation of a bullet wound in the nose and the same in the back of the left hand, and a bullet wound left forearm, the bullet being under the skin near the elbow. There was a perforating wound through the left side of the upper part of the breastbone, just below the base of the neck. The missile had penetrated the upper lobe of the left lung, then torn through the left pulmonary artery. The only fatal wound was the last. Death was due to rapid haemorrhage, caused by a bullet wound. 

The Crown Prosecutor: “Would deceased live long after the bullet entered?” 

Witness: “No. I am of opinion that death occurred in five or ten minutes, collapse taking place within a minute." 

Replying to further questions, witness said that, the body appeared to have fallen, not dragged, where it was found. 

Replying to counsel for accused witness said the position of the body was quite consistent with death supervening while attempting to crawl, but there were no signs of the latter. 

To the Crown Prosecutor witness said that the wound through the breastbone could nave been inflicted while deceased was lying on his back. 

Joseph Malcolm James McIntyre, railway clerk, said that he was a fellow lodger of deceased. On the morning of 23rd August he received £20 from Blakeway to mind. Early in the evening he handed back the money, Blakeway then leaving the place of lodgment. 

The Court adjourned.  -Nelson Evening Mail, 11/11/1931.

KARERE MURDER CHARGE

CASE AGAINST NORMAN DECKE 

SECOND DAY OF HEARING 

RIFLE AND AMMUNITION. 

EVIDENCE OF PURCHASES. 

(By Telegraph — Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., Nov. 12. 

The hearing of the charge of murder against Norman Robert Decke following the finding of the body of Edwin John Blakeway at Karere on August 24 was resumed before Mr Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. The court was again crowded. 

Norman Peter Hansen, salesman for a firm of ironmongers, said he knew accused in a business capacity. Witness sold him a rifle on July 18. It was of .22 calibre of the Walther automatic brand and was a second hand one. Accused bought two packets of cartridges the same day. The rifle would take a Nobel cartridge, which would be branded with a letter N on the base. Winchester’s branded letter was H. The Remington was branded with a letter U and the Western was branded with a diamond. The brand marked with a diamond had a copper coating. Accused called on witness on July 27 regarding the rifle. He complained that the firing pin was broken. A new firing pin was ordered. Two packets of .22 long rifle cartridges sold that afternoon would be Remington, Winchester or copper-coated. 

Eric Hollier, salesman for the same firm, said he sold two packets of .22 cartridges on July 27, but he could not say if he sold them to Decke. No other similar cartridges were sold that day. 

ROOM MATE OF ACCUSED.

Henry William Smith, farmhand, said that previous to June he worked for Mr Saunders at Fitzherbert West and met accused there. They occupied the same room. Accused owned a motorcycle the same as he had been using lately. Once in May he went to Otaki on it. He said he was “going to see a bloke.”

To the Crown solicitor witness replied that accused on his return merely said he had seen a chap. 

Continuing, witness said that on August 23 last at 7.30 at night accused rang him up at Iris residence at McKenzie Settlement and said he was coming over for a while. He told witness that if lie did not turn up for a while not to get disgusted and go to bed. Accused arrived at 8.30 p.m. and said he had had a spill. Witness said that accused had on a pair of overalls and a pair of gloves. Accused went to witness’ room and took off the overalls. Accused had asked the time when he arrived and witness told him the clock was half an hour fast. During supper accused sat right in front of the clock. Witness did not see anything attached to accused’s motor cycle. A gun could be there without being observed. Witness did not take particular notice.

GRAZE ON ARM. 

Accused had a graze on an arm when he arrived. 

To the Crown solicitor witness replied that accused left about 10.30 p.m. 

Were the tyres all right?— Yes. I felt them. 

Witness did not know which way accused went. He rang up accused the following day and asked him to go to the pictures. Accused replied that he was too tired as he did not reach home till midnight. Accused gave no reason for being late home. Accused left witness on the motor cycle on the Sunday night and a car from the opposite side of the road left five minutes after. 

To the Crown solicitor witness said he met accused in the town on September 26 by arrangement and had some conversation. Accused had said he had been having an exciting time. He had a puncture when going home on August 23. 

The magistrate: Was that the first time he mentioned it? 

Witness: Yes. I said a car had just left after him and should have seen him if he had a puncture. Accused replied he did not know how they could miss seeing him. 

The magistrate: Where was the puncture? 

Witness: On the Rangitikei Line. Accused said that several cars passed while he was mending it.

SHELLS USED. 

The Crown solicitor: Did accused say anything, in the town about a rifle? 

Witness: No, but about shells. Accused had said that the shells he used were the same sort as were used down at Karere. 

The Crown solicitor interposed that the witness seemed to be trying to see how little he could remember. He warned witness that his evidence would have to come out.

Continuing witness said that accused told him he had been interviewed by the police about the murder, but he did not tell witness what they said. Accused told witness that he had told the police he was at witness’ place that night. On October 24 witness had asked accused if the police had been interviewing him again. Accused replied: “No.” 

Frank Wakefield Verry, farmer, of McKenzie Settlement, said he met accused on the Sunday night of August 23. Accused left witness’ place at 10.20 o’clock. A car left a neighbour’s place about five minutes later.

TWO WITH MOTOR. CYCLE. 

Lucy Ann Fenwick, residing at Palmerston North, said that on August 23 with her husband and children she went by car to McKenzie Settlement. They left at 10.20 o clock. On their return they travelled by the Rangitikei Line. Just before they left witness heard a motor cycle start. When going out, at about seven, just before they turned up the Number Four Line witness saw two men with a motor cycle. They appeared to be repairing it. Witness saw no one when coming back. 

Henry John Fenwick, husband of the previous witness, gave similar evidence. 

Jens Envoldson, farm hand, of Whitmore Road, Linton, said he visited Miss Reid, who was employed at Saunders’ place on Sunday, August 23, on a push cycle which he left at the gate. Accused went out that night about 8.30. Witness went into the garage and sat in the back seat of a car with Miss Reid after accused’s departure.

INCIDENTS AT MIDNIGHT. 

Witness did not know how long they sat, but it was not long after midnight that accused came up the drive with a motor cycle. Witness did not hear the engine running and did not know whether accused was riding it. Accused took the machine round to the wood shed and remained there a few minutes. 

The Crown Solicitor: Did you hear him doing anything? 

Witness: It sounded as if he had dropped something. Accused then went into a toolshed adjoining the garage and the light went on. 

The Crown solicitor: Could you or Miss Reid see him? 

Witness: We did not look, but it would be possible to see him. 

The Crown solicitor: Did accused make any noise? 

Witness: He made a tapping sound on the concrete for a few seconds. It also sounded as if something had been swung on the wall. Accused was in the shed for about five minutes. Accused then went to the whare where he slept, but did not take the nearest route. 

The Crown solicitor asked if the tapping sound was consistent with the cleaning of a rifle. 

OBJECTION UPHELD.

Counsel for accused objected and the objection was upheld. 

Continuing, witness said that on October 4 accused spoke to him in the cowshed, saying: “You wait till they get you at the inquest. What were you doing in the car?” Witness, replying. said: “I will he there.” Accused had then said: “I will see they get you there.” 

Louisa Frances Reid, domestic servant, employed in August at Saunders’ residence, said she knew accused. She gave similar evidence regarding the night of August 23. 

James Arthur Sharman, employed by Mr Saunders as a farm hand, said that accused occupied a whare with witness. Accused had a rifle which he kept in a cupboard. On August 16 accused practised with it. On August 20 accused took it to the toolshed, saying it was becoming knocked about. On August 23 he and accused went to witness’ parents’ place in the town, returning to Saunders’ farm later in the day. Accused left at 7.30 at night. Witness did not hear accused return, but the latter told him he came home at about 12 o’clock.

DENIED CLEANING RIFLE. 

Subsequently witness had a conversation with accused, who said that Miss Reid was supposed to have heard or seen him cleaning the rifle in the toolshed after he came home on August ‘23. Accused told witness he did not clean the rifle that night, but he may have gone into the toolshed and handled it and may have cocked it. 

On September 16 accused returned from the police station and told witness he had been questioned by the police, who informed him he had been followed that Sunday night and some people in a car said he did not stop. The police on August 24 took the rifle from the toolshed, but did not get the cleaning rod, which was hanging in a cupboard in the whare. Accused did not know it was not taken until a few days later, when he said: “Here’s something they missed.” Accused pulled the rag off the cleaning rod and threw it in the fire, saying: “That is a bit of evidence they won’t get.”  -Hawera Star, 12/11/1931.

BY WHOM FIRED?

BULLETS FROM RIFLE. 

PALMERSTON MURDER CASE. 

FARM HAND FACES CHARGE. 

EXPERT EVIDENCE CALLED. 

(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, this day. 

The hearing of a charge of murder against Norman Robert Decke, in connection with the death of Edwin John Blakeway, the railway clerk who was shot while cycling home to Palmerston North on August 23, was resumed in the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. J. L, Stout, S.M.

Dr. Charles Hector, of Wellington, gave lengthy detailed evidence concerning the microscopical examination of numerous exhibits connected with the case, including a Walther .22 rifle, also shells, ammunition and bullets, which were taken, from Blakeway's body. The evidence was highly technical.

Witness said his conclusions were that the bullet from the chest, also a scrap from the left forearm, were Western .22 long rifle ammunition. Two bullets found on the roadside had the same grooves in rifling shells consistent with their being fired from the suspect rifle. The evidence was not sufficient to prove that all the bullets were fired from the suspect rifle, but it did not preclude the possibility that they were. 

An examination of the rifle, witness said, showed a characteristic injury to the rim of the firing chamber. Three shells and a live cartridge found on the scene of the tragedy showed certain marks which corresponded exactly with the injury on the rim of the gun chamber. 

Corroboration evidence was given by Professor P. P. Worley, of Auckland, and Sydney Tisdall.

Yesterday's Evidence. 

Frank V. Goode, a farm hand, said he met accused at a whare on Sunday, the week before the tragedy. They discussed Decke's rifle, witness asking the firing range. Decke said he didn't know, as he had never shot anything with it. He then asked witness if he thought it would kill a man. Witness replied that it would if fired close enough. Witness told Decke the police had been searching in front of the whare for cartridge cases, and Decke replied that it was a pity they did not look at the back, as he had been firing one night out of a window.

Blakeway Had No Money.

Witness said Decke told him Blakeway never had any money on him. He also said Blakeway was not playing the game, as he had a girl in Wellington, also that if the police found that he had diamond brand cartridges around the whare or had bought any recently he would be done for. One night after Blakeway's death accused took down a box in the whare and threw something in the fire, saying, "There's some more evidence the police won't get." It seemed like an old envelope. 

Ronald Leslie Meehan, farm hand, aged 17, said last May he saw Decke talking to his sister, when accused made a threat that he would stop Blakeway from marrying Betty.

Movements on Sunday Night. 

Detective H. H. Russell stated that on the evening of Monday, August 24, he and Detective Barling visited Saunders' farm and saw accused, who was later brought to the police station. Witness asked accused for a detailed account of his movements on the previous night. Decke said he was not out at Karere Road on the Sunday night, but had gone along it in the afternoon when he went to Buchanan's.

Threat in Heat of Moment. 

Witness was informed by Decke that the last time he used his rifle was on August 16. He knew Blakeway and it was three months since he had last seen him. That was at Otaki. He knew Blakeway was going with Betty Meehan and that was the principal reason for his going to see him at Otaki. He was afraid he had made a threat, but it was in the heat of the moment. 

Witness detailed tests made with Decke's gun, the cartridges being taken to Dr. Hector, of Wellington. At the same time witness handed over 65 shells fired from various rifles. All of the .22 calibre automatic rifles within a radius of 100 miles of Palmerston North had been fired through and the cartridges retained.

Detectives Barling and Power described the finding of two Lubaloy cornered bullets during sieving operations at the scene of the crime. They were sent to Dr. Hector.

Mention of Self-defence. 

Detective Sergeant P. Doyle said he was present on September 10 when Inspector Cummings asked accused if he ever had a row with Blakeway over Betty or anybody else. Accused said, "Not what you would call a row. I know that if I had a row with Blakeway and he was accidentally shot or killed through my defending myself I would be excused." Inspector Cummings told Decke that experts said there was no doubt that bullets found in the body were fired by his rifle. Accused said, "Is that so? If my rifle was used to kill Blakeway it would look as if I was there." On October 31 Decke was brought into the police station and charged with the crime. He made no reply.  -Auckland Star, 13/11/1931.

THE KARERE TRAGEDY

CHARGE OF MURDER

DECKE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Evidence given by detectives concerning statements made by accused on various occasions was the principal feature of the proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon when the hearing was resumed of the charge against Norman Robert Decke of the murder of Edwin John Blakeway. Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., was on the Bench, and with him was Mr A. J. Graham as Coroner.

Mr A. M. Ongley appeared for accused while Mr F. H. Cooke conducted the case for the police. 

DISCUSSION APOUT RIFLE.

Claude Weddel, aged 16, of Kairanga, gave evidence that he was at the Karere station on a Sunday afternoon last month. Decke came along on the motor cycle, and wanted to know if the police had found anything where they had been digging. Decke asked whether they suspected him. Witness did not answer, but Ronald Meehan said “No.” 

William Weddel, a brother of the previous witness, said he knew Decke was paying attention to Betty Meehan. On August 23 the two Meehan boys left his place to go home at about 10.30 p.m. Witness met Decke in town on September 26 last. Decke said: “You are having a little bit of excitement down your way.” Witness “Yes, you are having a bit too." Decke said the detectives had been out and taken in “about half the whare.” Witness said they were digging up the road and accused said: “I wonder if they will find anything.” 

The Crown solicitor: Did Decke appear to be quite normal when he was speaking to you? 

Witness: No, he seemed a bit flustered. 

Peter Louridsen, farmer and creamcarrier, residing at Linton, said that one morning when he called at Mr Saunders’s place he saw Decke. Accused asked witness if he knew what Jens Enevoldsen, who worked for witness, had told the detectives about what he (accused) was doing in the toolshed on the Sunday night. Witness said he did not know. 

BULLETS IN BODY.

Detective Herbert Henry Russell said he was present on August 21 at the post-mortem on Blakeway, and saw two bullets taken out of deceased’s body, one from the arm, and one from below the left shoulderblade. They were handed to witness who, on August 29 handed them to Dr. Hector in Wellington. At 8 p.m. that evening with Senior-Detective Quirke and. Detective Barling he visited Mr Saunders’s farm and saw accused. Later accused and witness were driven to the police station, where accused was told that Blakeway had been found dead on the Karere Road and an examination had disclosed that he had been shot. Witness told accused he wanted a detailed account of his movements on the previous night. Accused made a statement (produced) which he signed. On August 29, in addition to the two bullets referred to, witness handed over to Dr. Hector two empty Western cartridge shells, one Western long lubraloid bullet, and one automatic rifle, No. 31,342. On August 31 witness handed to the Dominion analyst two pieces of rag which had been used for cleaning the rifle. 

STATEMENT TO POLICE.

Detective Russell read the statement by accused to the effect that on Sunday afternoon, August 23, he visited Mr A. R. Buchanan’s place and, after returning home at 3.30 p.m. and milking the cows, he had tea. He went to see Henry Smith and after supper left his place at about 10.30 p.m., arriving home at about midnight. He had to stop his machine just before he reached the intersection of Rangitikei Line and the Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road to mend a puncture. It took about half an hour and he had trouble in getting the tyre off. He was not on the Karere Road on Sunday night, August 23, but was in the afternoon. He had bought a pea rifle about two months previously from Messrs Collinson and Son and had kept it in a cupboard in the whare until the Friday, before the Sunday, when he put it in the toolshed because it had been getting knocked about and one of the sights had been damaged, though it had been straightened since. The last time he fired out of the rifle was on August 16. He knew a man named “Ted” Blakeway, and it was three months since he last saw him at Otaki. He supposed the police knew “Ted” Blakeway was going with Miss Meehan and that was principally why he went to see him. He (accused) was afraid he did make some threats against him three months ago, but only in the heat of the moment. On the Sunday night he came home down No. 4 Line, then along Rangitikei Street and through the Square. He had had a spill on the way out and grazed his arm. 

SEARCH OF EFFECTS. 

Continuing, Detective Russell said that on September 1 he searched some of deceased’s effects, including a wooden box with the lid nailed down, in the parcels office at the Otaki railway station. There he found a letter addressed to Miss B. Meehan, signed N. R. Decke and dated May 17, 1931. On September 4 witness handed to Dr. Hector six empty shells, one broken firing pin and one bullet handed to him by Detective-Sergeant Doyle and Detective Barling. On September 7 witness handed to Dr. Hector one empty Western shell. On September 9 he was present when Mr Tisdall fired five Western and ten Nobel cartridges through a new rifle. Pull-throughs were put through the barrel before and after firing and were handed to the analyst. On September 16, with Senior Detective Quirke, Detectives Meiklejohn, Barling, Mills, and Constable Long he visited Mr Saunders s farm at Fitzherbert. Outside the whare they picked up empty Nobel shell cases and these were sent to Dr. Hector on September 24. At the same time witness handed to Dr. Hector 65 shells which had been fired from various rifles, including that owned by Norman Decke. The sample shells had been fired out of three automatic and two single shot rifles. Detective Russell added that all the .22 Walther rifles within a radius of 100 miles of Palmerston North had been tested and the shells fired had been sent to Dr. Hector.

DETECTIVE BARLING’S EVIDENCE

Detective Edward Barling said that on August 24, 1931, at 10.30 a.m., he commenced inquiries into the present case and at about 2 p.m. went to the scene of the tragedy at Karere, where he made further inquiries and took possession of three-empty .22 cartridge cases each with a diamond brand on the base, also one live .22 similar cartridge. Two of the cases were obtained from Robert Tanner, jun., one from Patrick Meehan and the live cartridge from Constable Beaton. At 8 p.m. witness went to Mr Saunders’s farm. Possession was taken of clothing and correspondence from the whare. There was no sign of a cleaning rod there when the search was made. An examination was made of the toolshed and there were horizontal cracks in the wall through which anyone could see in the garage. Behind the back of the toolshed door on a nail there was a .22 Walther rifle hanging by a sling and it would probably knock against the wood if disturbed. Accused identified the rifle as his property. It was not dusty, but other articles in the shed were. A motor cycle (No. 14.869) was found in the woodshed and appeared to have been recently used. The rifle, when examined, appeared to have been cleaned inside the barrel, bore no finger prints, and appeared to have been rubbed over with some substance. The rifle was taken to Mr Bycroft, gunsmith, to ascertain if it was in good order. Three shots fired by witness proved that. On August 27 witness examined accused’s motor cycle in the daylight in his presence. The front tyre was taken off and replaced in 26 minutes. There was a patch on the tube which showed signs of recent application, not more than a month. Accused took them to a spot in Rangitikei Line where he indicated he had had a puncture on the night of August 23. The same day a statement (produced) was obtained from accused relative to people he knew, and that particular puncture. On September 3, with Detective-Sergeant Doyle, he saw accused and asked him for his cleaning rod and the broken firing pin. The latter was procured from the mantelpiece and the cleaning rod from inside the wardrobe.

The Crown solicitor: Was the cleaning rod there when you searched before? 

Witness: No. 

SIEVING OPERATIONS.

Proceeding, witness said he was one of the party of police engaged in sieving operations at Karere and one day saw accused ride past towards Mr Buchanan’s. He returned in ten minutes, put his engine into neutral, remained watching them keenly for a few minutes and then rode off. While sieving on the side of the road on the following day, opposite to where the body was found, witness found a .22 calibre gold-coated bullet caught in the meshes of the sieve. During the sieving operations the area where the body was found was constantly under police surveillance. On October 6 the bullet was handed to Dr. Hector, of Wellington. 

Counsel for accused: Did you find any Western or lubraloy ammunition at accused’s place? 

Witness: No.

Detective Orme Power, of Dunedin, stated that on September 16 last, with Inspector Cummings, he interviewed accused with reference to his movements on August 23. Accused made an explanation, which was signed. Witness assisted in the investigations into the death of E. J. Blakeway. On September 18 with others he commenced sieving in the vicinity of where the body had been found. At 4.40 p.m. on September 26 he found a spent .22 lubraloy bullet, which was later handed to Dr. Hector. On October 5 witness was present when another .22 lubraloy bullet was found by Detective Barling on the opposite side of the road. The bullet found by witness came from the soil between where the body had been lying and Mr Tanner’s fence. The metal on the road was raked and searched also. 

EVIDENCE OF STATEMENTS. 

Detective-Sergeant Patrick Doyle, of Auckland, stated that shells, a bullet and firing pin obtained at Fitzherbert had been taken to Wellington. Witness was present on September 16 when Inspector Cummings asked accused if he had ever had a row with Blakeway over Betty or any other matter. Accused said, “No, not what you would call a row. I know that if I had a row with Blakeway and he was accidentally shot in defending myself I would be excused, but how can the four bullets found in his body be explained?” Inspector Cummings told accused that experts had no doubt the shells were fired by accused’s rifle. Accused replied: “Is that so? If my rifle was used to kill Blakeway it would look as if I was there.” Proceeding, witness said from September 18 to October 7 was spent in searching and sieving the locality, resulting in the finding of two bullets. On October 31, with Senior-Detective Quirke, witness went to Fitzherbert and asked Decke to accompany, him to the police station, where lie was charged with the crime and made no reply. 

Senior-Detective Thomas Quirke detailed taking possession of clothing and a rifle. A careful search of the roadway was subsequently made at the spot where accused stated that he had mended the puncture, but there was no sign of evidence to support that statement and nothing could be discovered. On October 31 accused was told he was wanted in Palmerston North. He came in and was charged with murder. Accused made no reply.

Evidence was given by George Harold Bycroft, a gunsmith, that in August last he was handed a Walther rifle, which looked as if it had been cleaned since it was last fired through. Witness put rags through the barrel and they were handed to Detective Barling, who then fired several cartridges to ascertain the nature of the markings made on the shells. 

Cross-examined, witness said the marking on the shells brought to him was that of the striker. It seemed to be the only marking, and did not seem to resemble that on the shells fired by Detective Bailing, but the examination made was only superficial. Proceedings were then adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day.

The report of the proceedings this morning appear on page 7.

EVIDENCE THIS AFTERNOON. 

CONCLUDING STAGES OF HEARING. 

DOMINION ANALYST IN WITNESS BOX. 

When the Court resumed this afternoon William Donovan, the Dominion analyst, of Wellington, stated in evidence that on August 31 last he received two pieces of rag from Detective Russell, taken through Decke’s gun before other shots were fired through it. Witness examined portions of the stains on both rags and detected the presence of metallic copper and of soluable potassium compound. An examination of similar rag not put through the gun failed to reveal these traces. Witness had received four cartridges, a .22 Western long rifle lubraloy coated bullet, powder, also pull-throughs from a .22 rifle after firing Western lubraloy cartridges. On September 9 witness obtained from S. T. Tisdall cleaning rags from a new .22 rifle after firing in the presence of witness three Western cartridges. The cleaning rags all contained metallic copper, but no soluble potassium compound could be detected. On September 18 he received from S. T. Tisdall a rag used after firing U.S. cartridges, and the same result was achieved. With three types of ammunition in which the bullet was coated with copper, lubraloy coating being principally but not entirely a coating of copper, that metallic copper was present in the cleaning rag in every case, but that soluble potassium compound was detected with only the first, which contained Lesmont powder, and not the last two, which were smokeless. Lesmont powder contained a considerable portion of potassium nitrate. The smokeless powders were nitro-cellulose. They contained no potassium compound. It seemed possible that the copper removed by the cleaning rags from the barrel might be derived not only from the coating of a copper covered bullet, but also from the shell of the cartridge. To test that ten Nobel long rifle rim fire cartridges, not copper-coated, were fired through Decke’s rifle in the presence of witness. The powder in them was smokeless. The cleaning rags contained metallic copper, but no soluble potassium compound. The results showed that copper might be obtained on a cleaning rag after the use of non-copper coated bullets. Soluble potassium compounds were found only when powder containing potassium compounds was used. Their presence on the cleaning rags obtained by Bycroft in his test was consistent with the firing in the rifle of Western cartridges, Marksmen .22 long rifle lubralay coated bullets, Lesmont powder, and not with the firing of the others. On September 29, stated witness, he received from Dr Hector portion of a bullet described as part of a bullet, 23 per cent. of weight, found in left arm of E. J. Blakewav, deceased. It was partly coated with copper, that being confirmed by a chemical test. When analysed it contained antimony 0.10 per cent., the balance being lead. Other bullets examined were three separate Western lubraloy coated solid Marksmen bullets, one Western lubraloy coated hollow point and one U.S. copper head. The first of these contained 0.12 per cent, of antimony, the second 0.11 and the third 0.16, giving an average of 0.13 per cent, for the three. The percentage of antimony found in the bullet received from Dr Hector indicated that it was part of a Western Marksman lubraloy coated solid bullet. Witness had examined deceased’s overcoat. On the lower part of the left sleeve was a bullethole surrounded by a black stain. Witness obtained from the stained material a distinct reaction for soluble potassium compound. An unstained portion gave a negative result. W itness was therefore of the opinion that the stain was a black powder stain which Lesmont powder would produce. There was no cross-examination. 

INSPECTOR’S EVIDENCE.

Inspector James Cummings, of Dunedin, said he assisted in the investigation of the death of Edwin John Blakeway and saw accused at the Palmerston North police station. He called with reference to the registration of his rifle. Witness told accused he wished to see him concerning that and a letter he was alleged to have written to Betty Meehan on May 17. Decke said he would tell anything he was asked, and was warned that anything he might say might be given in evidence. Accused then made a signed statement. It contained 23 sheets of typewritten matter. Witness told Decke the shots appeared to have been fired at close range and apparently rapidly like magazine firing. Decke said his brother at Marton had a Walther rifle which went off like a machine-gun, but one had to pull the trigger for each shot fired by his (accused’s) rifle. Just before he was leaving Decke said: “I think I have told you practically everything now.” Witness said in reply: “Did you ever have a row with Blakewav over Betty or any other matter?” Accused replied: “No, not what you could call a row.” He added: “I know that if I had a row with Blakeway and he was accidentally shot or killed through my defending myself I would be excused, but how can the four bullets found in him be explained?” Witness told Decke experts had no doubt that three shells found at the scene of the murder were fired by his rifle. Decke said: “Is that so,” and added: “If my rifle was used to kill Blakeway it would look as if I was there.” 

There was no cross-examination and this concluded the evidence. 

Counsel for accused intimated that accused did not propose to give evidence at this hearing. 

COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL IN FEBRUARY.

Accused was then committed for trial at the session of the Supreme Court commencing in Palmerston North on February 3. Counsel for accused asked the Magistrate if he would issue a certificate under the Justices of the Peace Act to the effect that it was a proper case for which accused could bo assigned counsel by the Crown and receive a copy of the depositions. The application was granted. The Coroner (Air A. J. Graham) adjourned the inquest sine die.  -MS, 13/11/1931.

DECKE’S RIFLE

BULLETS SAID TO CORRESPOND 

THREATS AGAINST BLAKEWAY Electric Telegraph—Tress Association PALMERSTON NNov. 12, During the proceedings of the second clay of the preliminary hearing oi the, charge, against Norman Robert Decke, a farm-hand, aged 19, of murdering Edwin John Blakeway at Karere on August 23, several detectives, who were engaged on the case, described their search for cartridge shells and bullets near the place where Blakeway’s body was found.

One witness, Detective Russell, told how he had tested thirteen .22 rifles within a 100-mile radius of Palmerston North and sent shells fired from them to Dr. Hector, of Wellington, for comparison with those found, both near Blakeway’s body and in and around Decke’s whare.

Evidence apart from that of tlie detectives mainly told of conversations Decke had with various acquaintances, one of whom alleged that Decke once threatened to stop Blakeway from marrying Aliss Betty Meehan.

Detective-Sergeant Doyle, who was heard late in the afternoon, said he was present when Inspector Cummings interviewed accused and told him that three shells found near Blakeway’s body had been examined by experts, who had no doubt that the bullets were fired from Decke’s rifle. Decke’s reply to this was that if his rifle was used to kill Blakeway it would look as though he were there.

Again the proceedings were watched all day by a large crowd at the back of the courtroom. Decke displayed calm interest in the evidence and followed that of the detectives very closely. 

Jens Enevoldsen, farm-hand, said he had known Decke for about two months. On the night of August 23 he had visited a Miss Reid, near the place where Decke was working. Later in the evening witness and Miss Reid went into a garage on the property and sat in the back seat of a Mr Saunders’ car. They sat there until a short time after midnight. 

The Crown Solicitor: During the time you were in the car did you hear anything of Decke? 

The Witness: I heard him come up the drive with his motor-bike. 

The Crown Solicitor: Where did he go? — “Round to the woodshed and then into the tool shed."’ Decke had switched on the light in the tool shed, and it would have been possible, then, for witness to have seen him. Witness did not look, but from noises made by Decke it seemed that he was standing somewhere between the door of the shed and a wall facing the gate. One of the noises was a tapping sound on the concrete, and another sounded as though he had swung something on the wall. 

The Crown Solicitor asked witness if the tapping noise he heard was consistent with the cleaning of a rifle, but the magistrate upheld an objection made by counsel for the accused. 

Later, witness said, Decke had told him to “wait till they get you at the inquest and ask you what you were doing in the car with Miss Reid.” Witness said he would not be there, to which Decke replied, “I will see they do get you there.”

Louisa Reid, domestic servant, gave similar evidence to the previous witness. The next morning, she said, Decke came in to breakfast, when she made some remark concerning “putting her pot on” about sitting in the car. Decke replied that if he had known she was there he would have locked her in. 

James Arthur Sharman, farmhand, said he had been employed at Mr Saunder’s place, with Decke, Trom August 15 last onward. He stopped in the same whare as Decke, and when he first went there Decke kept his rifle in a cupboard in the whare. About August 20 he had taken it up to the tool shed, saying that it was getting knocked about in the cupboard. Answering further questions, witness said that Decke had told him, later, that Miss Reid was supposed to have seen him cleaning his rifle when he came home, but he denied having done so. He said he might have gone into the tool shed and handled the rifle. Later still Decke had taken witness into the shed to see if it were possible for Miss Reid to have seen him at all from where she was when he came home on the Sunday night. A few nights afterward Decke, a man named Trevena and witness carried out another experiment in the tool shed, this time when the light was turned on. It was found that anyone in the garage could get a pretty clear view of the tool shed. On August 24, Sharman continued, the police had come out and taken the rifle from the tool shed, but they did not take the cleaning rod, which was in the whare. Decke did not know this till some days later, when he said: “Here’s something they've missed”; he took a rag from the rod, threw it in the fire and said: “That’s a piece of evidence they won’t get." After that Decke talked about the murder sometimes and often said, jokingly: “Here come the police to arrest me.”

The Crown Solicitor: I suppose he never admitted he committed the murder? 

Witness; No, never. 

Frank Goode, farm-hand, said that on August 16 he was with accused at his whare, firing shots from accused's rifle. Witness asked Decke the firing range of the rifle, and Decke replied that he didn’t know, following his reply with a question as to whether witness thought it would kill a man. Witness said be thought it would, fired at close enough range.

Some time later, Goode said, Decke told him he had been shown a letter by the police in which it was stated that the bullets fired at Karere were fired from his rifle. About three weeks ago witness was speaking to Decke when the latter said that if the inquest went all right with him he would see if Betty would marry him, and, if not, he would go home to England. 

The Crown Solicitor: Did he say anything about Blakeway’s money? 

Witness: He said that Blakeway never had any money on him. 

Later, Decke had told him that Blakeway was not playing the game, as he had a girl in Wellington. 

The Crown Solicitor: Do you know if Decke had any cartridges on him? — “Only about a week before the murder.” 

Did he say anything else? — “He said that if the police had happened to find any cartridges round the whare he would have been done for.”

Witness detailed how once Decke had taken something down from the mantelpiece in his whare and threw it in the fire, saying: "That's some more _____ evidence the police won’t get!” Witness thought it was a document of some kind that had been thrown in the fire. 

Ronald Leslie Meehan, farm hand, of Karere, brother of Miss Betty Meehan, said he had heard Decke threaten to stop Blakeway marrying his sister. That was in May last. On October 18 witness said he was at Karere railway station with a number of other people. Decke came up while he was there and spoke generally of the Karere murder. Among other things, he said that the police “fell in” over the rifle. 

The Crown Solicitor: Did he say anything about leaving the country. — “Yes; he said that if he wasn't shot in he would be leaving tor England.” 

The next witness was Detective Russell, of Palmerston North, who presented a statement accused made to him on August 24, detailing his movements on the previous night. In this statement also he said that he had made threats against Blakeway three or four months before, but he was never really serious.

Proceeding with his evidence, the detective detailed how he had handed over empty cartridge shells together with bullets recovered from Blakeway’s body, and some live cartridges to Dr. Hector in Wellington. He also handed over Decke's rifle to Mr Donovan, Dominion analyst, together with two pieces of rag that had been used to clean the rifle. Later, witness said he had tested 13 .22 calibre rifles, and had taken the shells used to Dr. Hector, and he had also tested cartridges with Mr Tisdall in Wellington. All the rifles tested had been within 100 miles radius of Palmerston North. 

Detective E. Barling said he started inquiries into the present case on August 24, and at 230 p.m. went to Karere, where he took possession of three empty .22 cartridge cases, each branded with a diamond, also a live .22. cartridge similarly branded. All of these had been found previously. At about 8 p.m. he visited Saunders’s farm again with other police officers, and when he went into the tool shed he discovered a .22 rifle belonging to accused hanging by its sling from a nail in the wall. All the articles in the shed, with the exception of the rifle, were dusty. Next day witness took the rifle to Mr Bycroft, a gunsmith of Palmerston North, who cleaned it with dry and oily rags. Witness fired three shots and took possession of the empty shells and rags used by Mr Bycroft. On August 2, witness examined accused s motor-cycle and found a patch on the tube of the front tire which apparently had been there not more than a month. Later accused indicated a place on the Rangitikei Line where he alleged he had a puncture on the night of August 23. Some time later witness procured accused’s cleaning rod and the rifle's firing pin at the whare at Saunders's farm and gave both to Detective Russell.

Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said he had been present when Inspector Cummings asked Decke if he had ever had a row with Blakeway. Decke replied: “Not what you would call a row; I know that if I had a row with Blakeway and killed him while defending myself I would be excused.” To a suggestion that four bullets found in Blakeway s body had been examined by experts, who had no doubt that the bullets were fired from Decke's rifle, Decke replied: “Is that so? If my rifle was used to kill Blakeway it would look as though I was there.” 

The day’s proceedings closed with evidence from Senior-Detective Quirke, who with Detective-Sergeant Doyle arrested accused on October 31, and from George Harold Bycroft, gunsmith. The latter witness, answering counsel for accused, said none of the marks made on the cartridges fired by Detective Barling resembled those on the cartridges brought to him by the detective. 

The cort rose at 5.30 p.m., and will resume at 10 a.m. to-morrow.  -Pahiatua Herald, 13/11/1931.

KARERE MURDER TRIAL.

 YOUTH CHARGED. 

DEATH OF EDWIN JOHN BLAKEWAY. (excerpt)

(

PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM) PALMERSTON N., .February S.

The hearing commenced in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Ostler of the case in which Norman Robert Decke, aged 10, a farm hand, of Fitzherbert, is charged with the murder at Karere, on or about August 23rd, of Edwin John Blakeway, a cyclist, who was found dead on the roadside as a result of bullet wounds. 

Fifteen jurors were ordered to stand aside by the Crown Prosecutor and five by counsel for the accused. 

The Crown Prosecutor spent a considerable time this morning addressing the Court on the case for the Crown and the evidence to be brought. 

The Crown Prosecutor detailed the finding of the body and the discovery at a subsequent examination of four bullet wounds, and the finding of live and empty shells at the roadside at Karere where the body was first seen. The three principal persons in the case were Miss Betty Meehan, Blakeway, and Decke. There was mutual attraction between Miss Meehan and Blakeway, who were to have been married last December. Decke first met Miss Meehan on Anzac Day, 1930. He frequently visited her and fell desperately, terribly in love, as letters produced would disclose. She was friendly, but preferred Blakeway, and made that plain. Miss Meehan's family did not approve of Decke as a suitor. Decke and Blakeway were the merest acquaintances. 

Alleged Threats by Decke. 

Decke, later, said counsel, wrote to Miss Meehan, saying: "I have decided definitely not to let Ted marry you. I will stop him, even if it is the last thing I do." Counsel contended that there was a plain motive there. It was also alleged that Decke made other threats to Miss Meehan against Blakeway, and in June wrote to her: "This is probably the last letter I will ever write you, not because I want it to be, but because I cannot do anything else under the circumstances." In July he purchased a rifle. 

The Crown Prosecutor said that Blakeway left Miss Meehan on the evening of August 23rd at 11.10. That was the last time he was seen alive. After detailing Decke's movements on the night of the tragedy, counsel stated that the police sieved the roadside at the scene of the tragedy and found two bullets. Experts would say that the shells of the bullets which killed Blakeway were fired from a particular Walther rifle and from cartridges of a particular brand. The experts were of the opinion that the ammunition was fired from Decke's rifle because of a particular mark on the rim of the barrel. 

The Crown Prosecutor, concluding a two hours' address, submitted that the crime could only be murder. So far, Decke had set up an alibi. If he did commit the crime it must have been premeditated. 

The Court adjourned till 3 p.m. to enable the jury to inspect all the localities concerned in the case.  -Press, 9/2/1932.

KARERE MURDER TRIAL

SECOND DAY OF HEARING 

ACCUSED’S LOVE LETTERS 

GIRL'S PARENTS IN BOX. 

(By Telegraph — Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., Feb. 9. 

The hearing of the charge against Norman Robert Decke, of the murder of Edwin John Blakeway was resumed this morning. 

Edith B. Vowells, stayed at Tanner’s residence on the Karere Road on the night of the tragedy gave evidence of hearing between 11. 10 and 11.20 p.m. long and short groans like a human call, but hear no shots. 

Similar evidence was given by Vivienne Tanner. 

Donald Forbes gave evidence of seeing the cycle on the side of the road on the night of August 23 about 11 p.m. 15. 

L. Jewell, farmer at Karere, gave evidence of having seen a cycle on the night of August 23, also stating that he passed somebody walking on the Karere Road towards the station when going home. 

P. A. Meehan, father of Betty Meehan, said that accused when employed at Karere visited his home in April last. Witness had told Decke he was not wanted but accused returned again. Blakeway and witness’ daughter were engaged to a certain extent but the engagement was not made public. Witness was in bed when Blakeway visited his house on the Sunday night and did not leave his room. 

Mrs. Meehan said that her daughter was not engaged to Blakeway. Decke passed witness’ home at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, but did not speak. 

Betty Norah Meehan, aged nineteen, said that Blakeway visited her home nearly every day when stationed at Longburn with her parents approval. She was friendly with Decke and went out with him on a motor cycle once or twice. Decke wrote her fourteen letters from October 1930 to June last. She did not reply to Decke’s numerous marriage proposals. One letter, written in May, contained a threat to Blakeway which she sent to him. Subsequently Decke visited her and asked if she was marrying Blakeway. She said “Yes.” Decke replied. “I'll see you don’t.”  -Hawera Star, 9/2/1932.

MANAWATU MURDER

TESTS WITH BULLETS 

CROWN CASE CONCLUDING 

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH, February 10. 

At Decke’s trial, Inspector Cummings stated that the accused, in a written statement, said it was highly improbable anyone had taken his rifle and put it back. If his rifle discharged the bullets that caused the death of Blakeway, he did not know how it got there. He did not know how he was going to stop Blakeway from marrying Betty, although he had said that he would. If his rifle had been used on Karere Road, it would look as if he had used it there. He had not taken his rifle out to Karere that night, adding: “If the rifle were used to kill Blakeway, it certainly points to me; but I say I was not there!” 

The Inspector said that, in answering a question, the accused had said: “If I had a row with Blakeway and accidentally killed him in defending myself, I would be excused.” 

To Mr. Ongley: Decke had come to the Police Station to register his rifle, and he was asked to give a statement. He quite willingly agreed, his statement was started at 10 a.m., and it was continued to 10 p.m., with breaks for lunch and dinner. When Decke was shown the report of Dr. Hector, he became perturbed, and tears came to his eyes.

 Evidence was given by George Harold Bycroft, gunsmith, who said he recalled Detective Barling firing two shots from Decke’s rifle. They then compared the marking on the shells caused by the firing pin with the markings on the cartridges found at Karere. Witness did not think that they were alike, but his examination had been a superficial one only, and, further, the cartridges were not of the same make. Witness said that Detective Barling had agreed with him at the time.

RIFLE BULLET TESTS.

PALMERSTON N., February 11.

The trial of Norman Robert Decke, on a charge of the murder of Edwin John Blakeway, at Karere, in August last, entered upon the fourth day of the proceedings to-day. The hearing of expert evidence concerning rifles and cartridges commenced, and this will complete the testimony in the case for the Crown, the trial probably concluding late to-morrow. 

Dr. Hector, of Wellington, who gave evidence that he had an extensive experience of microscopical work, including the taking of photomicrographs, stated that he received a Walter rifle of .22 calibre, No. 31,342, also other articles. Test shots had been fired with the same brand of ammunition as that found on the roadside. An examination of the shells disclosed that the striker impression was pear-shaped, which was produced only by the Walter rifle. Three shells, which also represented the same characteristic impression, comprised one picked up at the scene of the tragedy, one test shell fired with accused’s rifle, and one found near the whare. Certain extractor and ejector marks on them were only found with shells from the Walter rifle.

Dr. Hector stated that a nine points’ agreement between the test shells from the suspect rifle, and one of the shells obtained at the roadside, had been found. Witness had come to the conclusion that the shell found on the roadside and the test shells examined, had been fired from the same gun. None of the other rifles examined had the same injury. He was convinced that the cartridge found on the scene of the murder were fired from Decke’s rifle. Tests had been made of a bullet taken from deceased’s left lung, the bullet having four grooves and four crimping marks, the latter being confined to the Western ammunition. The bullet, found on the Karere road side, showed the same marks. Dr Hector said that one of four hundred shells fired from other Walther rifles, showed the same score mark burst on the rim or the striker impressions, as the shells from the suspect rifle. 

Cross-examined, witness said that with the pulling of the trigger, while the gun was unloaded, any other Walther rifle would make a similar injury to the barrel, but not the same, as it would not be worn to the same extent. Witness stated, that prior to the Lower Court hearing, he spent 206 hours in making the comparisons and tests, dealt with in his evidence.  -Greymouth Evening Star, 11/2/1932.

Final Stages

Per Press Association.

TRIAL OF NORMAN DECKE 

No Evidence Called For Defence. 

CROWN COUNSEL'S ADDRESS.

PALMERSTON N., This day. 

The proceedings in the trial of Norman Robert Decke on a charge of the murder of Edwin John Blakeway at Karere last August, entered upon the concluding stages in the Supreme Court this morning. 

There being no evidence called for the defence, counsel for the Crown addressed the court, submitting that the evidence, though circumstantial, clearly indicated that there could be no doubt as to the guilty person. Counsel contended that no link was missing in the case and that all the facts pointed to the man indicated being guilty of murder. 

Referring to the friendship of Blakeway and Decke with Betty Meehan, counsel said that where there was rivalry in love there was always jealousy, which had been found from the earliest times to he sufficient for the perpetration of the very cruellest crimes. The accused had made written and verbal threats against Blakeway. 

Referring to Decke's movements on the night of the tragedy, counsel said that he had ample time to go to the Karere road and wait for Blakeway. Counsel added that if the jury was convinced by the evidence of Dr. Hector and Professor Worley, it was clear that Decke was not mending a puncture on the night of the tragedy, but was on the Karere road about 11.20. Decke would have ample time after that to return home by any of several routes. 

DEFENCE COUNSEL'S ADDRESS. 

Addressing the jury, counsel for the defence said that the presumption of innocence could only be dispelled by the absolutely clear cogent of compelling evidence. Mere suspicion and the proving of motive was not sufficient. The Crown had not proved that Decke was on the Karere road on the night of the tragedy or that the bullets found on the roadside or in deceased's body had been fired from the accused's rifle, let alone a Walther. There had not been any evidence to show that the shells found had even been recently fired. No examination had been made of deceased's cycle for finger prints. Valuable evidence as to who handled it might have been lost. 

The question arose as to whether two men or one carried deceased's body to where it was found on the roadside. It could not have been the accused, as he had no bloodstains on his clothes. The possibility was that two were there with a revolver or rifle.

LETTER OF RECONCILIATION. 

The accused had certainly made a threat against the deceased, but experience proved that a man who talked a great deal usually did not act. Accused's threat had been followed by a letter of reconciliation to Miss Meehan. 

There had not been a scrap of evidence that accused made a threat or attempted molestation. The Crown had wholly failed to prove that Decke had bought Western ammunition. 

The suggestion that the accused took an hour to reach McKenzie Settlement on the fatal night and had the opportunity first of going to Karere road with a gun was not borne out. Counsel referred to the fact that the money deceased had when he left home was not found in his pockets. A stranger had been seen in the vicinity of the murder that night.  -Daily Telegraph, 12/2/1932.

DEATH SENTENCE.

DECKE FOUND GUILTY.

JURY RECOMMENDS MERCY

JUDGE'S SUMMING UP. 

ACCUSED "VIOLENTLY IN LOVE." 

(By Telegraph. — Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON N., Friday. 

Norman Robert Decke, farm hand, aged 19, was to-day found guilty in the Supreme Court of the murder of Edwin John Brakeway, railway clerk, at Karere on August 23 last. The body of Blakeway was found on the roadside near his cycle on the morning of August 24.

Mr. Justice Ostler passed the sentence of death. He said he would forward to the Governor-General a strong recommendation to mercy which was made by the jury on account of the prisoner's youth.

His Honor, summing up, said the evidence in the case was circumstantial. That was the case in 99 murders out of 100, because the man who planned a murder also planned that there should be no eye-witnesses. It was also true that circumstantial evidence might be equally, if not more, conclusive than that of eye-witnesses.

His Honor said the Crown relied on the motive of jealousy. The jury ought to read the letters produced, because they threw some light on the matter. They showed that accused was violently in love with the girl and they showed how hardly he took the statement that she was engaged to Brakeway. He brooded over that, sought out Brakeway at Otaki and then dashed back to see the girl and uttered his first threat. He later wrote a letter of seeming renunciation, but did he give her up?

The Crown relied upon the evidence of preparation for the crime. On the night before the murder accused took his rifle out of the cupboard and placed it in the toolshed. Next afternoon he visited the locality where the crime was subsequently committed. Accused presented an alibi on the night of the tragedy, but there was no evidence to support it. His Honor said accused never explained what he was doing in the toolshed at midnight, except that he might have handled the rifle. Later he was sufficiently concerned about the possibility that he was seen cleaning the rifle that he staged a test. An innocent man would be glad to give the police any evidence he could, but accused had thrown into the fire the rag from the cleaning rod.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy.

Deeke received the verdict and sentence without visible emotion, although when asked to say why the sentence of death should not be passed, he appeared tongue-tied, his counsel answering for him.

His Honor said that he agreed there was the clearest evidence of the murder of Blakeway by accused.  -Auckland Star, 13/2/1932.

DECKE FOUND GUILTY BUT RECOMMENDED FOR MERCY.

Sentence of Death Passed.  (excerpt)

Counsel contended that the man who did a lot of threat making was not generally the man who put his threats into practice. Counsel quoted from accused’s last letter to Miss Meehan written on dune 29. It was, he said, a letter in which accused had resigned himself to his defeat in the battle with Blakeway for her love. It was not the letter of a desperate man nor of a murderer, and yet the Crown was asking them to believe that for the two months following accused ruminated over his defeat and worked up to the crime of murder. The letter referred to by Counsel road as follows: — 

“Dear Bessie — As it is some time since I have seen or heard anything of you, I thought it was about time I wrote. This is probably the last letter I will ever write you, not because I want it to be, but because I cannot do anything else under the circumstances. I know you want to remain friends and so do I, but I don’t think that it is possible. I know what it would lead to so I think that it is for your own good if we break our friendship. I am sorry for what I last said to you. I lost my head for the minute, but I have been pretty sore about it ever since you told me. You must know how I feel but somehow I don’t think you realise what I have suffered. When I arrived home that night after you had told me and often when I was alone, I gave way to my feelings. I can’t help it. You had broken my heart but I still loved you. I don’t know why but I loved you in spite of it all and still do. Forgive me for saying so, but I don’t think you will be happy with Ted unless you are prepared to give up all your friends for him to love no one else, to share all joy and sadness with him, to stand by him through thick and through thin, and above all to be the mother of his children. I know you will say “yes” but sometimes I think you do not mean it. You have told me several times that I will soon find another girl, but I don’t want any other girl. You are the only girl I have ever written to, but what is the good of that now. I have often said I am prepared to overlook what has happened for your love, but you always turn a deaf ear to me now. It is hard to write like this Betty, but I hope it is for the best. A man must take what fate has in store for him. If this is my fate then I must take it. . . . Some day Bessie, I hope our paths will cross again. In the meantime we must go our separate ways you to marry Ted and me, God only knows. . . . I have told you that I love you and you know it, but will not listen to me. Let it suffice to say that I will welcome you with outstretched arms the day you are prepared to come to me if that should ever come, but I fear that it will not be now, so I will wish you goodbye. May God bless you dear. Yours sincerely, Norman R. Decke.”  -Levin Daily Chronicle, 13/2/1932.

DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED

PALMERSTON NORTH MURDER CASE. 

IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. 

(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. 

The death sentence passed on the young farm hand Norman Decke, for the murder of Edwin John Blakeway, the young railway clerk, at Karere on August 23, has been commuted to imprisonment for life. Edwin Blakeway's body was found on the Karere Road, near his cycle, on the morning of August 24. Four bullet wounds were found in the body. At the trial of Decke, the Crown relied on the motive of jealousy, both men having been friendly with Miss Betty Meehan, whose home was near the scene of the tragedy. The jury returned a verdict of guilt}', with a strong recommendation to mercy. His Honor intimated that he agreed that there was the clearest evidence of the murder of Blakeway by Decke. 

MEANING OF "LIGHT" TERM. 

The meaning of the term "imprisonment for life" is often discussed. It has been said that when a prisoner is sentenced to imprisonment "for the term of his natural life," he will never leave prison, but that "imprisonment for life" means that he may be pardoned and liberated from prison at any time, or else be kept confined for ever. A legal authority to-day said that the term "natural life" had never been used in New Zealand. However, it appeared that it had been considered, as there was an American case on the point which says, "Natural," as used in the sentence of a prisoner for his "natural life," is surplusage, and does not restrict or limit the word "life."

The authority added that in many cases persons sentenced to life imprisonment have been pardoned after serving a number of years. It all depended on the circumstances of the case and the prisoner.  -Auckland Star, 24/2/1932.

IN MEMORIAM.

BLAKEWAY: —In fondest memory of a loving son amndbrother, Edwin John Blakeway, who departed this life August 23rd, 1931; aged 25 years. 

— Inserted by those who loved him.

BLAKEWAY. — In loving memory of our dear friend and co-worker, Edwin John Blakeway, who departed this life on August 23rd, 1931. 

— Inserted by members of the Otaki Cycling Club.  -Otaki Mail, 22/8/1932.

IN MEMORIAM.

BLAKEWAY — In fondest memory of a loved son and brother, Edwin John Blakeway, who passed away August 23rd, 1931. Till we meet again. 

— Inserted by his loved ones.  -Press, 23/8/1935.

St Peters Churchyard, Christchurch.