INHUMAN ATROCITY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 163, 25 June 1928, Page 5

INHUMAN ATROCITY

COMBINED MURDER AND OUTRAGE.

WOMAN AND CHILDREN SAVAGELY ASSAULTED.

[United Preu Association—By Cable— * Copyright.)

[Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.)

Perth, June 24. A crime unparalleied in the history of the State is reported from Wubin, north of Perth.

A man named Clifford Hulme, who was employed by a fanner 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 daughted and baby of twelve months had been violated, the daughter after having her skull fractured by a blow from a piece of wood. Before thq wife was assaulted she was tied to a bed.

Hulme is alleged to have stated that immediately after having committed the offence he went to the police station and made the confession. WOMAN’S DIRE PLIGHT. [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.l (Received 25, 9.25 a.m.) Perth, June 25. Another daughter Elsie, aged ten years, states that Hulme tried to strangle her when she attempted to intervene. Mrs. Smith was released from the bedpost by Elsie and walked nine miles the next morning to the nearest neighbour, where she collapsed. All the victims are in hospital in a very grave condition. Hulme is now under arrest. He told the police that he shot Smith while the latter was driving a tractor, adding that his mind was a blank after that, but he remembered changing his clothes and walking 23 miles to Wubin and then entraining for Dalwallinu. Hulme was born on Lord Lascelles* estate in England and has been in Australia five years. He does not appear to realise the gravity of the charge.