MURDER CHARGE

Southland Times, Issue 20522, 26 June 1928, Page 7

MURDER CHARGE

WEST AUSTRALIAN OUTRAGE. VICTIM’S CONDITION GRAVE. , Perth, June 25. Another daughter, Elsie, aged 10 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 next morning to the nearest neighbour, where she collapsed. All the victims are in hospital in a very grave condition. Hulme, now under arrest, 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, walking 23 miles to Wubin and then entraining for Dalwallina. Hulme was born on Lord Lascelles’ estate in England and had been in Australia five years. He does not appear to realize the gravity of the charge.—Australian Press Association.

A previous message stated: A crime unparalleled in the history of the State is reported from Wubin, north of Perth. A man named Clifford Hulme, who is 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 of twelve months had been violated, the daughter afterwards having had her skull fractured by a blow from a piece of wood. Before the wife 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-