KOKATAHI SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1929, Page 6

KOKATAHI SENSATION

A PECULIAR. AFFAIR,

SETTLER’S WIFE SANDBAGGED

A peculiar happening was reported to the police yesterday. It appears that on Monday night (New Year’s Eve) Mr and Mrs Mark Wallace, (well known residents) and their family, proposed going out for the evening to a local resident’s place to celebrate the New Year. An employee, Black, about 18 years of age, left earlier, but afterwards as it was raining decided to reurn to the homestead and on getting here, went to bed, thinking the rest of the household were away. Some half an hour later he heard a noise as if someone was running out of the bouse and got up to investigate. On entering the bedroom occupied by Mrs Wallace, he found Mrs Wallace sitting up in bed in a dazed condition. (It appeared that Mrs Wallace had later decided not to go out and with the children retired to bed). Mrs Wallace at first accused Black of firing a bomb in the room, which lie at once denied. She was very shaken, and frightened and at first refused to allow Black to leave the room. Ultimately lie went through the house to investigate and found a sock with sand in it in the passage. It was then found that Mrs Wallace had the side of her head and face marked and some sand on it, and it is concluded that the intruder sandbagged her. There was nothing missing in the house, or disturbed and in spite of very careful enquiries, the affair is shrouded in mystery. Constablo Drummond was enquiring all day yesterday without avail.