Man Dies, Four Severely Injured In Axe Attack

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30107, 16 April 1963, Page 12

Man Dies, Four Severely Injured In Axe Attack

'Nc-o Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, April 15.

The 66-year-old husband of one of five persons who suffered axe wounds at Mangatainoka on Sunday night, died in the Palmerston North Hospital late tonight. He was Mr Milton I. Hughes, who was admitted to hospital suffering from poisoning. He lay in a deep coma until he died shortly after 11 p.m.

His wife, and three of the other victims of the tragedy, were reported at 11.30 p.m. to be seriously ill.

The five persons were struck with an axe as they lay in bed in a house behind the Mangatainoka railway station on Sunday evening. Those injured were:

Those injured are: Mrs Maggie Hughes, aged 64 a housewife, of Mangatainoka. Mrs Mima Vibert, aged 32, a housewife, of Middleton street, Johnsonville, and her two children. Heather, aged seven, and lan, aged five. These four are in the Palmerston North Hospital. Mr Errol Vibert, husband of Mrs Vibert, and son-in-law or Mrs Hughes, who is in the Pahiatua Hospital. was reported tonight to be in a satisfactory condition

The assailant attacked Mrs Hughes, the two children, then Mr and Mrs Vibert. •They were struck about the head and upper pari of the body.

Mr Vibert, who occupied a double bed in the front bedroom with his wife, was awakened by blood pouring into his mouth. He had apparently been unconscious for a while after he had been struck He summoned a doctor. The police were called shortly afterwards and a party was sent from Palmerston North. Mr and Mrs Vibert were visiting Mrs Vibert’s parents. Mr and Mrs Hughes, to assist them to pack their belongings Mr Hughes had sold his small farm and had made arrangements to meet the new owners today Shortly before 10 p.m., a call was received by Sergeant

P. J. Clements, of the Pahiatua police, asking for assistance. The call came from Mr Vibert. Dr. L McKenzie, with the police, went to the scene, and Mr Vibert was taken to the Pahiatua Hospital. Mrs Hughes. Mrs Vibert and the two children were taken to the Palmerston North Hospital for emergency treatment.

Early this morning a police car collected samples from the house to rush them to Wellington to ascertain the nature of a poison from which Mr Hughes was suffering Detective-Sergeant F. H Parker, of the Palmerston North C. 1.8., was recalled from holiday to take charge of the investigation.