He was a native of Port Underwood and had obtained considerable savings through farming alongside his brother Joseph and Jerome on what was his parents' property known as Starmount.
[6] The key for Flood's home was soon located by the grounds keeper for the Picton Croquet Club when it was found on the green and handed in to police.
[7] In June 1932 Tarrant was intercepted at Blenheim after a report by a local business stated he paid for items with old English banknotes in large denominations.
[8] After a false pocket was discovered containing notes that fit the description on his person, Tarrant was arrested and charged with Flood's murder.
The skull dome had been sawn right around and could be lifted off like a cap and was located by brass dowels.Tarrant was known to be a skilled left-handed axeman making him a prime suspect prior to the discovery of the banknotes on his person.
Detectives discovered that upon throwing the keys of James Flood's home from the Tarrant property, they landed almost exactly where they had been found by the Croquet Clubs groundskeeper.