HINDU MURDERED.KILLED WITH TOMAHAWK SHOCKING HAWERA TRAGEDY.
FRUITERER'S TILL RIFLED
GRUESOME FIND BY POLICE. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) HAWERA, this day. With five frightful vouiuls in the back of liir* head, and with his face covered witli a coir mat, the body of Nana Clibiba, a Hindu, known familiarly as "David," was discovered by the police in the back rooms of his fruiterer s shop in High Street, at about eleven o clock Jast night. The wounds were apparently inflicted with a tomahawk, and the mail had "been dead, according to medical opinion, for at least twelve hours. Robbery is the suggested motive for the .murder, .'is the till in the shop had been ransacked. It would appear that the deceased was the victim of an unexpected attack, as there were no signs of a struggle or of any disorder in the shop or in the living rooms. The deceased was reputed to be a mail of some means. He had been in business in Hawera for fifteen yeais. He owned the freehold shop 'he occupied, besides other business property. On Saturday night his takings would be, it is estimated, about £00. Nana Chbiba is a brother of the David brothers, well-known fruiterers, of Wanganui. The two David brothers, who manage the Wanganui branches, left last week on a holiday trip to India.
Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 27, 2 February 1931, Page 10
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19310203.2.110&srpos=23&e=-------100--1----0nana+murder+hawera-- HAWERA MURDER.MYSTERY OF HINDU'S DEATH.WOUNDED ELEVEN TIMES.TRACES OF CRIME REMOVED.
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
HAWERA, Tuesday.
More than x tho usual element of mystery surrounds the murder of Nana Chhiba, the Indian fruiterer, whose body was found at the back of his shop in Hawera on Sunday night. It is now learned that there were eleven wounds in the man's head, five of them being particularly severe. It is presumed that two of them were made with a tomahawk and two deep depressions in the top of the skull coincide with wounds that could have been made with a hammer that was found. The opinion is held that Chhiba was felled with the tomahawk and that many of the wounds were inflicted as he lay on the floor. Further, it is considered unlikely that one man would have used both hammer and tomahawk. When the police paid visits to the shop •between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. the doors were found locked, but when a visit was paid a little after 11 p.m. the back door was unfastened. It was possible that the man, or men, with comparatively small chance of being caught red-handed, leisurely removed the incriminating traces of the crime. The finding of the tomahawk and hammer in a tin bowl of water suggested that they were washed. The premises were apparently in good order, and it is contended that there was no valid reason for the police to force an entry when the first call was made. At that time it was broad daylight, and not until an hour later, when darkness had set in, was it observed that the lights were burning. Even then, with the only particulars that the police had, there was. no justification for forcing an entry. The problem which has been set the police to solve appears to centre round what happened between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Sunday. It w&s known that the Indian was killed some hours before 7 p.m. Discoveries made since Sunday suggest that there may have been more than one assailant, and that the person or persons who committed the crime were actually on the piemises at the time the woman Avho raised the alarm called to make a purchase. No theory has been advanced loi the motive of the crime beyond that of robbery. Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 29, 4 February 1931, Page 7
HINDU'S DEATH. ALLEGED MURDER AT HAWERA INQUEST OPENED TO-DAY.
NEPHEW GIVES EVIDENCE.
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HAWERA, this day. The inquest on Nana Chhiba, the [Hindu who was found apparently murdered in a back room at his fruiterer's shop in Hawera on the night lof February 1, was opened before the coroner, Mr. R. S. Sage, to-day, and following evidence of identification, which was given by Hira Govind, of Stratford, a nephew of '•.the deceased. Witness said Chhiba had a wife and I daughter living at Matvad, Bombay Witness said he did not visit his uncle on January 31.
Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 40, 17 February 1931, Page 8
MURDER OF HINDU
HAWERA TRAGEDY.
NO TRACE OF ASSASSIN.
REWARD TOR APPREHENSION OFFERED.
-INQUEST ADJOURNED.
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
HAWERA, this day.
A reward of £250 has- been offered for information leading to the apprehension of the murderer of Nana Chhiba, the Hindu fruiterer whose body was found at the rear of his shop on the night of February 1.
The inquest into Chhiba's death was arranged for to-day, but, on the application of the police, it has been adjourned sine die.
Chhiba, a Hindu familiarly known as "David," was discovered by the_ police in the back rooms of his fruiterer's sliop. He had five frightful wounds in the back 6f his head, and his face was covered with a coir mat.
The wounds were apparently inflicted with a tomahawk, and the man had been dead, according to medical opinion, for at least twelve hour-*.
Robbery was the suggested motive for the murder, as the till in the shop had been ransacked.
It would, appear that the deceased was the victim of an unexpected attack, as there were no signs of a struggle or of any disorder in the shop or in the living rooms. The deceased was reputed to be a man of some means. He had been in business in Hawera for fifteen years. He owned the freehold shop he occupied, besides other business property. On the night of his murder his takings would be in the vicinity of £60.
Nana Chhlba was a brother of tho David brothers, well-known fruiterers, of Wanganui. Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 58, 10 March 1931, Page 10
REWARD OFFERED MURDER OF A HINDU
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HAWERA, This Day. A reward o£ £250 has been offered for information leading to the apprehension of the murderer of Nana Chhiba, the Hindu fruiterer, whose body was found at the rear of his shop on the night of Ist February. The inquest was arranged for to-day, but on the application of the police has been adjourned sine die.
Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 58, 10 March 1931, Page 11
MURDER OF INDIAN.
ARREST MADE AT MASTERTON REMANDED 1 TO HAWERA. MAN" EMPLOYED BY A BAKER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.')] MASTERTON, this day. Walter John Tinsley, aged 25, who was arrested in Masterton last night, appeared in the Magistrate's Court this morning charged with, the murder of Nana Chhiba, Indian fruiterer, at Hawera, between 11 p.m. on January 31, 1931, and 11 p.m. on February 1, 1931*7 On the application of Senior-Detective Quirke, of New Plymouth, he was remanded to appear at Hawera on May 20. Tinsley is said to have gone to Hawera from Johnsonville early in January. From January 17 until three weeks ago, when he left for Masterton, he was employed by a local baker. It is understood that his wife did not accompany him to Hawera, but arrived there later, leaving again after a brief stay. He is said to have boarded at a hotel a short distance from Chhiba's fruit shop. Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 111, 13 May 1931, Page 9
UNSOLVED MYSTERY.
BRUTAL MURDER OF HINDU.
EVIDENCE AGAINST SUSPECT. HEARING NEXT MONTH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAWERA, this day. Early next month Walter Tinslcy will appear in the Hawera Police Court for the preliminary hearing of the charge against him of murdering Nana Clihiba, a Hindu fruiterer. It is expected that the story of the police investigations will do much to clear this five-months-old mystery, which has aroused more than usual public interest.
When Ghhiba's shop was visited by the police on the night of February 1, the Hindu -was found lying in a pool of blood with his head battered. Apparently no clue had been left by his murderer, and months dragged by until the shocking crime had been almost forgotten. Then came the arrest of Tinsley at Masterton. Discovery by Woman. The circumstances leading to the discovery of the tragedy were unusual. A woman who visited the shop on the Sunday evening saw something lying huddled on the floor of the back room with blood round it. Although her family were inclined to make light of the incident, she told her solicitors, who happened, to act for Chhiba also; The story was handed on to the police and a visit was paid to the 4>uilding. Everything was apparently in order. There was a light in the back room, the door of which was closed and would not open. Later in the evening the police again visited the shop premises, and entered it, to find the corpse of Chhiba, who had apparently been killed not less than eight to ten hours before. The strange part of the woman's story, as she told it to the "Star's" correspondent at the time, was that the, door, which was slightly open "as she came across the yard, and through which she saw the indistinct heap on the floor, slammed violently in her face as she turned to go. The door is not fitted with a spring.
Hammer or Tomahawk Used. The weapon used was cither a hammer or a tomahawk. Both were found in a basin of water. There were black hairs and stains on the head of the hammer. The shop till was rifled. Some days later a sum of money was found concealed in the shop. Detectives Meiklejohn and Quirke were engaged on the case. While they stayed in Hawera they were boarding at the same hotel as Tinsley, who left Hawera not long before he was apprehended at Masterton. While the police have made no disclosures as to the line their investigations took, it is understood that bloodstains played a prominent part. Mr. P. O'Dea, of Hawera, will appear for Tinsley. Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 11
THE HAWERA MURDER TIXSLEY. GOBS TO TEIAL CORONER'S OPEN VERDICT
(By Telegraph.—) Press Association.) HA'WEEA, This Day. After two full days and evenings the hearing of tVie charge against Walter John Tinsl'ey of having murdered Nana Chhiba, the Hindu fruiterer, was concluded i.ll the Magistrate's Court this morning. The accused was committed for trial. Of 42 witnesses who had been subpoenaed, only 34 were called by the Crown. The In st two gave evidence this morning. .A coachbuilder stated that Tinsley haul authorised car repairs costing £6 95., and paid cash, while the other witracss, Chhiba Gopal Panchia, whose firuit shop adjoined the bakery where Tinsley was employed, said that Tinsloy had occasionally taken drinks with him. at the shop. "I am very surprised that Pivac, who saw the accused before he-went to the shop on the night of 3rd January, has not- been called," said Mr. ODea, counsel for the defence. "It see*ms to m/e that the object of the police in this case is not to bring out the truth, but merely to get a conviction." Mr. Salm.on, S.M.: "You should not say- that. 'The police af'e not bound to call the witness." Mr. OT>ea: "I feel that I should." The accused was committed to the Supreme Court at New Plymouth for trial on the 17th August. No application was made for bail. Mr. Pnge, Coroner, returned a vers diet thait Nana Chhiba, a native of Bombay;, met his death on 31st January or tet February at his shop through being struck repeatedly on the back of the head with a hammer by a person or persons unknown.
Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 4, 4 July 1931, Page 14
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19310702.2.83&srpos=20&e=-------100--1----0nana+murder+hawera--paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19310704.2.112&srpos=19&e=-------100--1----0nana+murder+hawera-- ALLEGED MURDER
DEATH OP HINDU
TINSLEY DISCHARGED
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day.
After sitting from 11.40 a.m. «o 10 p.m. yesterday tho Grand Jury returned no bill on tho chargo of murder of Nana Chhiba, at Hawera, on 31st January, against Walter John Tinsley.
He was discharged from custody this morning, affirming his innocence as he left the dock. Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 42, 18 August 1931, Page 10
NO BILL.HAWERA MURDER CASE.INDIAN FRUITERER'S DEATH. TINSLEY DISCHARGED FROM CUSTODY. AFFIRMS HIS INNOCENCE
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
NEW PLYMOUTH, this clay,
After sitting from 11.40 a.m. to 10 p.m. yesterday, the Grand Jury returned a no bill on the charge of the murder of Nana Chhiba, +he Indian fruiterer, at Hawera on January 31, against Walter John Tinsley.
Tinsley was discharged from custody
this morning, affirming his innocence as he left the dock.
Tinsley, a baker, aged 25, was charged on May 12 with having committed the murder.' In the Magistrate's Court evidence was given by a number of witnesses, including Sergeant-Detective Quiike, who said he had been on special duty at Hawera since February 2. He met Tinsley at the Royal Hotel on May 4, and while stopping there saw him over a period of some weeks. On March 14 the latter was interviewed, and made a statement. A search of a wardrobe disclosed a brown waterproof coat with blood smears and spots of blood. Asked how the blood came to be on his clothing, Tinsley replied, "I must have got that at the Mastcrton freezing works."
Tinsley was charged with the crime on May 12. While putting on his boots he said to the police officers, "You fellows had to catch someone, and you caught me." Next day he came before the Magistrate's Court and was remanded to New Plymouth.
On May 24 three Maoris identified him in a parade as having been seen in Chhiba's shop on the night of Saturday, January 31. A fourth native was uncertain. The body of Chhiba was discovered on Sunday, February 1, by a woman residing next door, who called for the purpose of obtaining something from him.
At the hearing in the Magistrate's Court when Tinsley was committed for trial, residents of Masterton testified to the good character which he had borne. Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 194, 18 August 1931, Page 8
ALLEGED MURDER
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day.
Walter John Tinsley, charged with the murder of the Indian fruiterer, Nana Chhiba, at Hawcra, between 31st; January and Ist February, appeared in Court this morning. Ho was remanded to appear at Hawera on 2nd July. The police intimated that the case would then be proceeded with. Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 150, 27 June 1931, Page 10
