A STRANGE TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10304, 13 January 1927, Page 3

A STRANGE TRAGEDY

MISSING FOB FOUR MONTHS

SEARCH PARTIES FOILED

DISCOVERY A' MERE ACCIDENT

BROKEN HILL, Dec. 29,

Following on the discovery yesterday of. the body of the six-year-old fluid, Joan Smith, buried within a lew hundred yards of the homestead of i'oolamac-ca Station, a lad, James Hughes, aged 161, was arrested late last night on a charge of murder. He was formerly employed at the station.

The police last night went to another station, where the lad was^employed, and took him to the spot where the body had been found.

The tin ding of the body of Joan Smith caused a sensation in the district.

No marks of violence were discernible on the body. The skull was intact, and no bones were broken. Mr. Smith passed the spot where the body was found many times since the child was missed on August 24. I3v the merest accident the burning of the carcase of a sheep led to the discovery. Eager volunteers for miles around Poolamacc-a Station assisted in organised searches for little Joan Smith, shortly after she was missed on August 24. . For days they penetrated into the wildest country, beating systematically through the bush, hut they were never rewarded with the slightest sign of the girl. The search went on. Weeks elapsed, and the search seemed hopeless; but the inhabitants did not entirely give up hope of finding the, girl or her bedv.

Volunteers travelled through the bush on horses and in motor cars. At least 100 people took part in one expedition, while a black-tracker went carefully over miles ci country around the station. Business houses in Broken Hill released their male employees to help in the search. Subsequently the black-tracker came on the girl’s footprints, and he reported that beside them were the tracks of man’s size nine boots. That was all the tracker could find.

An aeroplane flew over the hills and plains for many miles, without result. Then it was announced that a reward of £SOO would be paid for definite information about Joan Smith.

Four more blacktrackers were engaged, but they had no more success than the first. During one week-end 800 searchers were out. The girl’s father, however, was convinced that she had been carried off.

fr. September the reward of £SOO Was increased to £flooo.