"TUAKAU SENSATION”

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 642, 17 June 1921, Page 7

" TUAKAU SENSATION”

“ViCTIJH’S” CONFESSION

A HOAX.

On Saturday night last the local police received intimation from Tuakau that an “assault” had been committed in Dominion Road, Tuakau, and that a railway cadet named Ellis Cecil Bowbves, aged iIT years, had been knocked unconscious. His story was that when he was proceeding to the boarding house from the station earlier in the evening he noticed a

man standing in the scrub. This man stepped out into the road in front of him, but when Bowbyes turned his lamp on him the man stepped back. Alter having tea he went to the township and was returning when he was assaulted. He alleged that he was kicked and dragged unconscious into the scrub, where he was found. He gave a minute description of the man who had accosted him.

1 Sergeant Cowan, Constable Wolfendale, and Dr Wake proceeded to the scene of the “tragedy.” Bowbyes was examined, and he was found to / be suffering from shock, although no external bruises could be found j The district was thoroughly seai'ched by the Pukekohe police, but no trace of the man could be found. Investigation of the ease by DetectiveSergeant Hammond, of Auckland, led him to doubt the truth of the youth’s si cry. Inquiries showed that on a previous evening a resident had beer, accosted at the place where the J assault was alleged to have been committed, and the matter had been freely discussed at the boarding house. After Bowbyes had said he also had been accosted an effort was made tw several residents to discover the mam When the youth was returning from the township he was 1 practically escorted by several men, | who were jonly a short distance behind him,. They suddenly heard him 'call out, and rushing up, found him lying in the scrub.. Thinking they ( beard someone running away they went in pursuit. - When they return- ! ed. in about half an hour the youth was still lying in the scrub. I Subjected to ‘cross-examination by the detective, Bowbyes finally admitted that his story had been’ sugr gested by hearing of the previous incident on the road, and that he had concocted the grim story to cause a sensation in Tuakau, which he succeeded in accomplishing. i

! The residents of Tuakau and particularly the fail- sex fraternity, were somewhat alarmed over the matter and many very nervous especially during the nights for fear the “assaulted man’s” assailant was in the neighbourhood, and out to do further damage. When the news circulated that the whole aff air .was a hoax a | sigh of great relief came over the ! township.

| There are many wild rumours cur!rent concerning the mystery. One .is that there was a girl in the case. It is alleged that Eowbyes was keepling company with a girl, and that someone else had stepped in and cut Bowbyes out. Overcome with jealousy he and a pal set out to chastise the' fellow who had butted in. On the particular night in question the fyoung man and were l'eturning home from a walk and Bowbyes stuck him up. A “scrap” took place and Bowbyes and his pal got the worst of it.

j Another report also concerning the | girl and Bowbyes was again jealous, iHe himself hid in the scrub and when a man came along he stepped out and ' said: “You are. not the fellow I want,” and stepped back. He followed this up and acted the victim 'and assailant the very next night and absolutely hoodwinked a couple of men who were about 10 or 12 yards behind him.

I Most people in Tuakau consider the hoax a very clever piece of work indeed.