STRANGE AFFAIR AT GUILD FORD VICTORIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4217, 20 May 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

STRANGE AFFAIR AT GUILD FORD VICTORIA.

i A .sinoit.u: and somewhat romantic rumour ; from the neighbourhood of Guildford has ob- | taincd circulation, says a Victorian exchange. j An elderly man named Spencer, residing iu j that locality, being rather anxious to add to his household anil on his comforts, became enamoured of a blooming widow, whose residence was at Tarilta. After some months pleasantly spent in the work of courtship, i the iiioiuentuiis question was fairly put, and ! received a satisfactory reply. The happy ' day was lixed. Towards the latter end of : last week the bride elect asked the intended i bridegroom to meet her on the top of Tablehill, Tarilta. It su happens that on this spot a number of very deep shafts have been sunk by miners many years since, the locality , being thus rendered somewhat dangerous—as should a person unfortunately fall down one, tliiTu would hi; little probability of his a- - ; pearance on the surface again, either dead or ! alive. The night being bright moonlight. Mr. Spencer kept the appointed tryst, but was somewhat surprised at meetiiig.sonie one who appeared to he a miner; however, the two got into conversation, and in the course of the walk passed several of the deep shafts, On ■ arriving al the top they .-..t down on the edge of one nf these, when the " miner" threw a stone down and remarked how deep it was ; his companion -ot up, and was in the act of looking down, when suddenly the "miner" ■ rose, and lloiirishing a tomahawk, struck 1 Spencer a fearful blow on the back of his I head, causing the blood to Mow copiously, • auji nearly sending him head foremost into j 't%hole! P>y a dexterous movement, however, he swerved clear, and then turning round saw to his amazement that the "miner" was no other than his inamorata dressed in male attire. With a bound he rushed homeward, closely followed by the woman, but on coming up to the fence he stumbled, when she again attacked him—this time with the blade edge of the tomahawk, and inllicted severe wounds on the side of his face and heael. After some struggling the unfortunate fellow if it clear of her, and r*n home as fast as he omild and sought medical attention. The next morning the widow called upon him as if nothing had happened, and dressed in her proper habiliments, when angry altercations and recriminations took place, she alle-ing to those present that her lover bad attempted to take advantage of her loneliness. The matter, it is said, lias been placed in the , hands of the police for elucidation, and an information is to be sworn to-day. Such is ' the rumour.