GIRL'S BODY FOUND.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 15

GIRL'S BODY FOUND.

MURDER CHARGE FOLLO\YS

(BT CABLE—PKr.SS ASSOCIATION— COrTKIC-HT.) (AUSTBALIA.N AND V.7.. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

SYDNEY, December 29,

On August 24th the six-year-old daughter of Mr Moss-Smith, of Puniamook Station, near Broken Hill, disappeared. Since then search by the police, bands of residents, and black trackers in the wild country for many miles around has been made, and an aeroplane has scouted far and wide. Clairvoyants and spiritualists were consulted* and they stated that the child was still alive. The parents offered a reward of £IOOO for her recovery. Yesterday an employee ot the station, who was gathering sticks a short distance from the homestead, saw a child's foot protruding from a shallow crave, and unearthed the body of the missing girl. It bore no signs of violence. Later James Hughes, who left the Moss-Smith's employment shortly after the disappearance of the child, was arrested and remanded on a charge of murdering her.

STATEMENT BY HUGHES. UCSTRAUAS AND N.Z. tABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 30th. 8.15 .p.m.) SYDNEY. December 30. In connexion with the finding of the body of Joan Moss-Smith, at Poolamacca station, the police officially announce that the boy Hughes made a statement that: the girl was killed, by ■ falling'■ from a pony. He was afraid to tell, and buried the body where tie found it. An inquest will be held on January 10th.