STRANGE AFFAIR AT GUILDFORD.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 285, 11 May 1875, Page 3

STRANGE AFFAIR AT GUILDFORD.

(From the Mount Alexander Mail, April 26.)

A singular and somewhat romantic rumour from the neighbourhood of Guildford obtained circulation in this town on Saturday last. An elderly man named Spencer, residing in that locality, being rather anxious to add to his household and to his comforts, became enamoured of a blooming widow, whose residence was at Tarilta. After some months pleasantly spent in the work of courtship, the momentous question was fairly put, and received a satisfactory reply. The happy day was fixed. Towards the latter end of last week the bride elect asked the intended bridegroom to meet her on the top of Table-hill, Tarilta. It so happens that on this spot a number of very deep shafts have been sunk by miners many years since, the locality being thus rendered somewhat dangerous—as should a person unfortunately fall down one, there would be little probability of his appearance on the surface again, either dead or alive. The night being bright moonlight, Mr Spencer kept the appointed tryst, but was somewhat surprised at meeting some one who appeared to be a miner ; however, the two got into conversation, and in the course of the walk passed several of the deep shafts. On arriving at the top they sat down on the edge of one of these, when the "miner" threw a stone down and remarked how deep it was ; his companion got up, and was in the act of looking down, when suddenly the " miner" rose, and flourishing a tomahawk, struck Spencer a fearful blow on the back of his head, causing the blood to flow copiously, and nearly sending him head foremost into the hole ! By a dexterous movement, however, he swerved, cleared, and then turning round saw to his amazement that the "miner" was no other than his inamorata

dressed in male attire. With a bound he rushed homeward, closely followed by the woman, but on coming up to the fence he stumbled, when she again attacked him—this time with the blade edge of the tomahawk, and inflicted severe wounds on the side of his face and head. After some struggling the unfortunate fellow got clear of her, and ran home as fast as he could and sought medical attention. The next morning the widow called upon him as if nothing had happened, and dressed in her proper habiliments, when angry altercations and recriminations took place, she alleging to those present that her lover had attempted to take advantage of her loneliness. The matter, it is said, has been placed in the {hands of the police for elucidation, and an information is to be sworn to-day. Such is the rumour.