WAIKATO FARM MYSTERY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 9

WAIKATO FARM MYSTERY

BODY COVERED WITH SACKS THEORY OF SUDDEN COLLAPSE. DISAPPEARANCE OF HUSBAND. Hamilton, Oct. 16. Mystery surrounds the death of Mrs. Christabel Lakey, aged 54, and the disappearance bi her husband, Mr. Samuel Pender Lakey, aged 49, farmer, of RuaWaro. Mrs. Lakey was found dead about 11 o’clock this morning with her lace immersed m a shallow duck pond within twenty yards of the . back door of her home. Her body was lying on the grass face downwards, and the back of her head was above the level of the Water. Death had apparently occurred from 12 to 17 hours before. The circumstances leading to the discovery of the tragedy Were that tWo neighbours, Messrs. A. Wright and B. V. Stevens, noticed at about 8 o’clock this morning that Mr. Lakey’s cows had not been milked. The two teen visited Mr. Lakey’s farm and could find neither Mr. nor Mrs. Lakey. Constables Robertson and Elms, of Huntly, were then communicated With, and when they arrived a search about the house and farm was made. Mrs. Lakey’s body was found at the duck pond, a concrete structure 12ft. long, 6ft. wide and 4in. deep at the top end, where the body was found. NO MARKS OF VIOLENCE. The body was covered with sacks, and this Was the reason it was not found at first. An examination of the fourrbbmed dwelling in which Mr. and Mrs. Lakey lived Showed that the beds had not been slept in. Mr. Lakey had changed his farm clothes for a good suit, and a double-barrelled gun which .it was known he possessed Was missing. Dr. A. A. Macfarlane, of Huntly, who examined the body bf Mrs. Lakey about 1 p.m. to-day, could find no marks of Violence, but could not certify the cause of death until a post-mortem examination had been held. The body was removed to Huntly this afternoon. Mr. Lakey was last seen by a neighbour about 6 o’clock last evening. He was then attending to his cows at the milking shed. After milking and separating, he had washed the plant and had placed a can bf cream at the gate. This Was an unusual procedure, for Sunday night’s cream is usually not put but until Monday morning. SEARCH OF SWAMP AND SCRUB. Constable Robertson organised Search parties to-day, those assisting including Messrs. Wright and Stevens,. J. Slater, C. A. Sanson, L. Stent, J. Gilmour and jC. CalvCrt. An extensive search of the SWamp aftd scrub near the farm proved fruitless.

Mr. Lakey’s form tetnprises about 110 acres. It consists of a high hill, on the top of which the cottage is built. Surrounding the hill is a large area of Swamp land, part of which merges into the Whangape Lake. The farm is situated 13 miles to the north-west of Huntly in a sparsely settled district; . Mr. and Mrs. Lakey had lived on the farm for about 15 years. They had no children. Both were highly respected»and were regarded as a devoted couple. They had nd relatives in the district, but Mr. Lakey is believed to have cousins in Auckland.

A thedry has been advanced that Mrs. Lakey had a seizure while feeding her ducks and geese, and fell forward, her tach becoming immersed in the pond. It is belfeved that Mr. Lakey then discovered his wife dead, ahfl in his distress had covered her with sacks, and, after Changing his clothes, had gone away. •

Mh. Lakey is described by the police as being clean-shaven, sft. 9|in. in height, with fair hair and fair comptexion; He, is believed to be wearing a brown suit.

Six detectives and plain-clothes constables arrived at the farm. at 3.30 p.m. to-day, and, With the. assistance of the local pblice, resumed the search for Mr. Lakey. SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MRS. CHRISTOBEL LAKEY’S DEATH. ■\ ■ ■ ; TRACES OF POISON DISCOVERED. By Telegraph—Press Association. ■ Auckland, Last Night. , A sensational development in connection with tfie death of Mrs. Christabel Lakey, Who was found dead wife het face immersed in a duck pond at Ruawaro, occufted to-day when Dr. WaddelL Hamilton, and Dr. MacFarlane, Huntly, discovered traces of poison in the body during a post-mortem examination lasting an hour and a half, which was very thorough. Beyond stating that traces Of poison were found and that the circumstances Of Mrs. Lakey’s death were, suspicious, doctors and police were very reticent. The contents of the stomach were forwarded to Auckland for analysis. The search for Samuel Pender Lakey, the husband of Mrs. Lakey, was continued to-day. Superintendent Till visited Huntly last night and as a result of his consultations the police already engaged.on the spot arrived at the Lakeys’ farm this morning. Detective Snedden was in charge, assisted by Detective AllSopp. Ten constables and nearly 20 settlers 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. The only trace found Was a smoking pipe believed to be the property of the missing man.