A TERRIBLE CRIME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 June 1928, Page 7

A TERRIBLE CRIME.

EMPLOYEE KILLS FARMER

THEN ASSAULTS WIFE AND DAUGHTER.

United 1-res.s Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyx-ight.) (Australian Press Association.) PERTH, June 24.

A crime unparalleled for horror in the history of the State is reported from Wubin, a township north of Perth. A man named Glifiord Huline, who was employed by a farmer named Harold Eaton Smith, near Wubin, reported to the police that he had killed Smith. The police investigated and found Smith in the bush with a bullet wound in his head, and that; Smith’s wife and six-year-old daughter, and a baby 12 months old, had been violated, the daughter afterwards having had her skull fractured by a piece ot wood. Before Mrs. Smith was assaulted she was tied to a bed. Hulme is alleged to have stated that immediately after having committed the offences he went to the police station and made a confession. FURTHER DETAILS. Received 10.35 a.m. to-day. PERTH. .Tune 25. Another daughter named Elsie, aged 10 years, -states that Hulme tried to strangle her when she attempted to intervene. Mrs Smith was released from tin? bedpost by Elsie and walked nine miles next morning to the nearest neighbour, where she collapsed. All the victims- are in hospital in very -grave condition. Hulme 4s now under arrest. He told the police that he shot Smith while the latter was driving a tractor, adding that his mind became blank after that, hut he remembered changing his • lothes. walking 23 miles to Wubin and then entraining for Dalwallimi. Hulme was bom on Lord Ln-scelle’-s estate, in England, and has been in. Australia for live yeans. He does not- appear to realise the gravity of the charge against him.