ALLEGED STABBING OF SETTLER

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 12

ALLEGED STABBING OF SETTLER

4, Maori Woman Arrested FOUND HIDING IN BUSH NEAR HOMESTEAD Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, July 29. Assisted by constables from Raetihi and Ohakune, a detachment of AVanganiti police under the direction of Detec-tive-Sergeant ,1. K. Robertson and Detective J. Murray searched rugged bush country to-day behind Jerusalem, 40 miles up the AVanganui River, in an effort to locate a Maori woman, Kathleen AVaitoa, aged 38, who was wanted in connection with the alleged stabbing of Albert Edward Davey, settler, aged 49. A warrant for the woman's arrest was issued to-day, and she was finally found by Detective Murray in a gully several chains from Davey’s house. She was brought to AVanganui this evening, and it is understood she will appear in the Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on a charge of doing grievous bodily harm to Davey by stabbing him with a butcher’s knife. She was formerly Davey’s housekeeper. The injured man was conveyed over a difficult three miles on a horse-drawn sledge to an ambulance van from AVanganui. He was admitted to the AVanganui Publie Hospital at 8 o’clock to-night, suffering from knife wounds in his chest. His condition was reported to be satisfactory. Dr. AV. J. Feltham made a hurried Journey from Raetihi when he learnt, of the incident yesterday, and found Davey in a state of collapse. Because of the extent of his injuries it was not considered advisable to remove him to hospital immediately. Constable C. Chesnutt, who was in the vicinity of Jerusalem, was summoned, and in response to a telephone call, Detective-Sergeant Robertson raid Detective Murray left Wanganui. They arrived at Davey’s home at 10 o’clock, but the woman concerned had disappeared into the bush. AVhile inquiries were being made, Constable S. Frost, Ohakune, mid Constables D. AVallace, F. AV. Edwards, S. Best, and S. Cave, AVanganui, left this morning to take part in the search. AA’hen arrested at 3 p.m., the woman was hiding in the bush.

Driven by Air. D. E. Gallery, a St. John Free Ambulance van left AVimganui at 10 o’clock this morning, and after a difficult journey reached the nearest point to Davey’s home, about two miles north of Jerusalem. On one occasion the vehicle was bogged axle deep in mud. As the usual road to the homestead was impassable, the ambulance could go no further. Even a stretcher would have been extremely awkward over such rough country, and there was rio alternative but to convey the injured man on the sledge.