MYSTERY DEATH

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12078, 18 October 1933, Page 4

MYSTERY DEATH

body or farmers wife

IN POND.

SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. TRACES OF POISON FOUND. SEARCH FOR MISSING ‘ : ' HUSBAND. (Press Association). AUCKLAND, October 17. A sensational development in connection with the death of Mrs. Christobel Lakey, who was found dead with her, dace immersed in a duck pond,, occurred to-day when Dr. Waddell, of Hamilton, and Dr. Macfarlane of Huiitly, discovered traces of poison in the body during the post moi-tem examination which lasted an hour and a-half and was very thorough. Beyond stating that traces of poison were found and that the circumstances of Airs. Lakey’s death are suspicious, doctors and police were very reticent. The contents of deceased’s stomach have been forwarded to Auckland for analysis. The search for Samuel Pender Lakey, deceased’s husband, was continued to-day. Superintendent Till visited Huntly last night,, and as a result of bis consultations, police are already engaged on the spot. They arrived at Lakey’s farm this morning. Detective Snedden is in charge and lie is assisted by Detective Allsopp, ten constables and nearly 20 settlers. They thoroughly and systematically searched the farm and adjoining properties, particular attention being given to a large area of scrub and tea tree fringing Lake Whangape. The search, however, was fruitless. Tlie only trace found was a smoking pipe believed to he the property of the missing man.

A message published yesterday states: “The body of Mrs. Lakey, wife of Samuel Lakey, farmer of I>°towaro, near Huntly, was found in a pond tliis morning. It had been covered with briar, which partly hid it. Neighbours noticed that the cows h a d not been milked, and found that both Lakey and his wife were missing. Their beds had not been slept in, and a shotgun which was kept in the house was not there.”