MYSTERY OF AN ASSAULT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 33, 10 February 1915, Page 3

MYSTERY OF AN ASSAULT.

murderous attack on farmers WIFE. disappearance of an infant Per Prkss Association. Auckland, February 9. News has just been received of what appears to have been a murderous attack on the young wife of a sheepfanner at Oncwhero, 50 miles south of Auckland. The woman (Edith Emma Reals), was brought into the Auckland Hospital this morning in a critical condition, and an operation is now being performed for the removal pf a bujlet from her head. The woman is 31 years of age, and resided with her husband and ladyhelp (Miss Hunter), and three children on a sheep farm seven miles from Onewhero, in rough country, the nearest neighbor being a mile away. Leslie. Reals,. the. husband, left the house early yesterday morning to go droving, intending to be absent all night, and nothing untoward happened during the day. The family retiied at night as usual, and early this morning Miss Hunter went to Mrs Real’s room, and was horrified’to find her lying unconscious on her bed, which was bloodstained. She was bleeding from a bullet wouncj in her head, and her.head and face were also marked heavily as if by blows from a piece of wood, and a .piece of wood, beating bloodstains was afterwards found in the room. ; , , , . The two children, a girl aged four and a boy aged two, were playing about in the room, but of an infant five weeks old which had been in lied with Mrs Reals, no trace has yet been found. Miss Hunter gave the alarm, and police and medical assistance were summoned. The whole affair has many mysterious features. Mrs Reals, with her infant and little boy, occupied one room, and the little girl occupied the next room, Miss Hunter’s room being beyond that, and none of them appear to have heard anything during the night. 'None of the neighbours were able to throw any light on the occurrence.

The first the husband heard of the tragedy was when a messenger met him driving cattle near Suakau, some fourteen miles from home, to which ho was returning. Interviewed to-night, Reals stated that he was absolutely unable to form any theory to account for the attack on his wife and the mysterious disappearance of the baby. They lived on amicable terms with their neighbours, and had no enemies who would contemplate such a deed.

A number of detectives are now in the district making enquiries.