CAVEMAN AND LOVER

Shannon News, 13 June 1924, Page 1

CAVEMAN AND LOVER

Frederick Stephen Wells, of Bungonia, who was admitted to Goulburn Hospital as the result of a remarkable fight in the wild bush country, is said to be known as "The Stormy Petrel of Bungouia." and to have been proua of, the appellation (says the Sydney correspondent of the Auckland 'Star').

inquiries that have been made since the affair establish that while he lived at Buniganaa he spent most of his time prowling about the head waters o£ the Shoalhaven River, in the mountainous country, living like 'a caveman, and often being absent from his home for weeks at a timo.

The first two days following tihe w r ounding of Well? produced no coherent story of the attack; but the police have now been able to piece together the following story, Clement Larkham and Mercy Evelyn Hockey, the two accused, have been able to obtain bail.

Wells, in his statement to the police. says that an altercation arose between him and Larkham, who was riding ! home through the bush after visiting his ■sweetiheart, Miss Hockey. Larkham alleges he struck Wells in defence with a hatchet ho used for setting rabbit traps. The encounter occurred about 100 yards from the lonely bush cottage in the Wiindellima Ranges, where the girl lived wilh her mother and uncle. Miss Hockey, who was standing in the doorway after having farewelled her lover, heard angry voices raised iir the thicket, and shouted to her mother, "He is doing for my boy." She grasped! a bar of iron used as a poker, and rushing into the thicket came upon the two men. Believing that Wells had killed Larkham she is alleged to have dealt him some heavy .fclbws with the iron. The amazing affray, which has set the district agog,- is remarkable rotthe fact tha« two of the best-known figures of that part of the country are concerned. ,

Larkham, one of the accused, is a hunchback, and was born and bred in tihe same wild locality as the gin. They have been regarded as- sweethearts for years, and though both are in poor curcumstances they are nighly spoken of in the district.