THE KIWITEA SENSATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 170, 24 January 1912, Page 6

THE KIWITEA SENSATION.

MRS. KERNAHAN'S STRUGGLE IN THE DARK. "GIVE ME THE KEYS!" The Feilding correspondent of the Wellington Times gives the following particulars of the Kiwitea outrage:— With reference to the account, published in Saturday's Times of a brutal assault committed early on Friday morning on Mrs. Kernahan, postmistress at Kiwitea, additional details show that Mrs. Kernahan, who is a widow, and her daughter Marjorie, 14 years of age, retired to rest about .10 o'clock on Thursday night. Both slept in the same room, though in separate beds,

MRS. KERNAHAN AWAKENED. Close upon 2 o'clock on Friday morning Mrs. Kernahan was awakened by a strange noise and asked, "Who's there?" She also lit a candle, but not observing anything unusual, she extinguished the light. Shortly afterwards the window, which was partly open, was pushed up from outside and a man came through, having seen the location of the bed when the candle was alight, and apparently being directed to it by Mrs. Kernahan's voice of challenge. He was at the aide of the bed before the occupant could do anything. She was then gripped at the throat by the man, who demanded the keys of the post office. The gurgling noise made in Mrs. Kernahan's throat through the pressure roused Marjorie, and though the daughter could not see she could hear the man •demand the keys of her mother. Thoroughly alarmed, hut with amazing presence of mind, she made a very quiet exit through the back door and screamed for help, at the same time running in the direction of the next door neighbor, Mr. Kilgour. I A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.

In the meantime a desperate struggle was proceeding in the bedroom between the postmistress and her When he found that she was not going to be frightened into compliances with his demand his worst passions took possession of him, and with great brutality he gave her a stunning blow on the back of the head with some kind of iron bar that he must have had with him. He then gained blows on her body, and succeeded in inflicting a deep gash at the back of her head, a triangular-shaped wound over each eye about an inch in length each way, cuts on the face and arms, and. so heavily did he strike her on the arms that it was thought one arm was broken.

On Saturday morning, however, the arm, though fearfully swollen, could be moved slightly, also the fingers. The assailant also apparently knelt on her with all his weight, judging by the severe bruises and other indications. It would then seem that the assailant, believing that he had killed Mrs. Kernahan, threw her out through the window into the garden, for here the unconscious form was found about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes later by Messrs Thomas and Kilgour. RELIEF PARTY ARRIVES. The latter had heard Marjorie Kernahan's appeals for help, and getting out of bed rushed across to r see what was the matter. Being apprised of the circumstances he returned for his gun, and then went to the next house for his brother and Thomas.

'By the time the relief party arrived the man responsible for such a brutal outrage had completely disappeared, leaving no trace behind. Mrs. Kernahan was brought into Fielding, where she is now receiving medical attention. Mrs. Kernahan has lucid and definite knowledge of all that occurred until she was so cruelly and savagely battered about the head and rendered unconscious.

On Friday she gave a statement of the occurrence to the police. This she repeated and accurately corroborated on Saturday morning.

THE MOTIVE. It is quite manifest that robbery was the primary object of the visitation, but this end was defeated by the courageous woman. "Who is the man?" is the query now receiving attention. That it is a stranger is apparent to all, and no other deduction could be arrived at when Mrs. Kernahan's universal popularity -in the district is considered. SUSPICIOUS SWAGGER.

I undertsand that about two weeks ago a strange swagger visited Kiwitea and had occasion to go into the post office. His voice then struck Mrs. Kernahan as being unusual and peculiar, owing to a certain sharpness and harshness of tone, and I understand she feeli confident that it was the same voice that demanded the keys from her, and that belonged to the man who perpetrated such a shocking and brutal outrage. The struggle having taken place in the dark she was unable to see him, but she is sure he is thin and fairly tall, and not very strong, as she was able to hold her own with him in the fight until lie used the iron bar, stab, or whatever instrument it was. It has been further ascertained that a strange man was round about the post office on a bicycle a few days, before. Apparently the man first'gained entrance into the post office, but being baulked by his inability to open the safe lie left and tien entered Mrs. Kernahan's bedroom , POLICE TAKE A HAND.

Detective Quirke and Constable Fitzgibbons, together with a number of Kiwitea setlers, have been scouring the country, but so far without success. Sergeant Bowden again visited Kiwitea yesterday, and if it is possible to bring the cowardly assailant to justice the police are determined to do it. The Kiwitea post office was temporarily attended to by Mr. W. Worsfold, of the Feilding office, but a relieving officer from Wellington arrived at Kiwitea on Saturday and took charge until -Mrs* Kernahan is well enough to resume her duties.

The girl, Marjorie Kernahan, has come in for a good deal of commendation for the presence of mind she displayed in obtaining help. She went out so quietly that even her mother was unaware of the fact, and it is quite possible that had the assailant known of her presence in the bedroom he would have done something desperate to prevent her exit. He was after money, and when he could not get it without foul means he did not scruple to introduce cruel tactics but failed.