BRUTAL CRIMES ON FARM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 389, 25 June 1928, Page 1

BRUTAL CRIMES ON FARM

Murder and Assaults MAN SURRENDERS HIMSELF TO POLICE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 10 a.m. PERTH, To-day. A CRIME unparalleled in the history of the State is reported from Wubin, north of Perth. Clifford Hulme, who was employed by Mr Harold Eaton Smith, a farmer near Wubin, reported to the police that he had killed Smith.

The police investigated and found Mr. Smith’s body in the bush with a bullet wound in the head. They also found that Mr. Smith’s wife had been outraged and ner little daughter of six and a baby 12 months old had been brutally assaulted. The assailant had fractured the daughter’s skull by a blow from a piece of wood. Before Mrs. Smith was assaulted she was tied to a bed. Hulme is alleged to have stated that immediately after having committed the offences he went to the police station and made a confession. Another daughter, Elsie, aged 10 years, states that Hulme tried to strangle her when she attempted to

intervene. Mrs. Smit- was released from the bedpost by Elsie, and walked nine miles next morning to the nearest neighbour, where she collapsed. All the victims are in hospital, in a very grave condition. Hulme is now arrest. He told the police the/ he shot Mr. Smith while the latter was driving a tractor, adding that his mind was a blank after that, but he remembered changing his clothes, and walking 23 miles to Wubin, and then entraining for Wallinu. Hulme was born on Lord Lascelles’ estate in England. He had been in Australia for five years. He does not appear to realise the gravity of the charge.