PATEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVIII, Issue LVIII, 3 December 1909, Page 5

PATEA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) A most extraordinary affair occurred here yesterday. About 1 p.m. a matt named Martin Power, an old age pensioner, employed on a farm of Mr O. [ Wimsett, proprietor of the Central Hotel, came to the residence, of Mr Malone and stated that he had during the previous hour been attacked by three masked men, who demanded money, and when he refused had assaulted him and committed injuries of the most dangerous and extraordinary character. The police were communicated with and the man removed to the hospital, where it was found that his story as to the nature of his injuries was correct.

Dr Simmons at once attended to the sufferer, who was in an extremely low condition.

The whole affair seems most mysterious, and" Constable Armour happened to be quite close to the place duringthe time the assault was alleged to have taken pla~ce, and did not see any one about ; moreover the house is within a chain of the residence of Mr H. Ward, the occupants of which neither saw anyone nor heard axy sounds that one would expect in connection with such a scene of violence.

■ Constable Armour and Mr G. Williams visited tho house and found the house in perfect order, "the kitchen bearing signs of being recently scrubbed so that no^traces of blood remained in the house. The only place where any such signs were found was in the dairy, some little distance away. Power, being questioned, admitted having scrubbed the kitchen and done several other things after the time he says ho was assaulted and before "he walked, to Mr Malone's, a quarter of a mile distant.

Father Duffy visited Power during the afternoon at the hospital, and the patient still adheres to nis almost in-« credible story of the masked men having mutilated him.

The affair caused quite a sensation "hero, and most people seem to consider the man must Be suffering from some mental derangement. Power was a very quiet and industrious man and very temperate in his habits. On enquiring at the hospital this morning I was informed that Power was doing very well, and was practically out of dagger.