ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 7

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

. •■;..■■■■' ?—- —*——— '. ■'■•■. ■ ; BRUTAL ATTACK ON A LADY. i, SENSATIONAL AFFAIR ON THE :;:,,; ;■■■•.■; ;, v;-moeraki. .■'■:■■■*■■ ■■■■■•■■; "-. .Those on-.board the Union Company's steamer Jloeraki between 2 and 3 p.m.-yes-terday v were 'thrown' into, a state of: great excitement 'when; it became 'known':: that a through: lady .passenger from : the, south to Sydney, had ;■'.. been badly : maltreated and robbed in her cabin as the vessel lay peacefully beside tho'. Queen's l Wharf. The .sufferer was Miss Orr,76f Oamaru, who, with a .party.:.of'seven,-wns: travelling to Sydney on a. holiday. .With lior friend and cabinmate,';'Mrs.': Angus'j •of-.'Duncdin, -she retired to /'her- cabin'. soon after , lunch to. rest for a. .whilo, her ■' friend,■■...having.' -a , ..little' businessan town, .leaving ;hor to herself after.' a fow minutes.' .-'•■■; '';.- .' ;.■:;-■■ :' ': : ' v i ; : " At. •about 5 .2.15 p.m.: the cabin ' door was flung-.open ;quickly;_ ; and; a: man entered; locked the door .behind him,- and then seize'd ■the" young lady by the throat, 'and said, ."Give •mo. your'money!" As ho said it ho -•thrust thedazed: and Startled, young lady oh ;to -the. couch,--and still held her. firmly by the' throat while.'she fe!t';in; the'pocket of; her Ypetticoat and produced a leather purso' containing- £4 6s. Then,:as-slio still struggled,, the ruffian caught :hor by ■ the neck with" one hand, and in a fit ;of cowardly violence hit her in, the face with his. fist, "cut--ting, hor'i cheok:and nose. great distress .Miss. Orr ; madea- desperate attempt to. reach, the-. electric ! v bell;-.-'- but;.the": man : saw her' object'at: d'ncoj and seizing her with .brutal, roughness he raised her up 'and threw. her down' ujobn the couch two .or three times, evidently.-with the object ,of dazingMier. in order .that he. could make; his ..escape' before' sho;pould givp. the alarm. : / .. : . . ■:-Jn. : this'he was. successful, i After he had' unbolted .the.:'do6r;arid left, 'she , 'was' quite dazed', for a 'rninuto or'■ two/' then' recovering : -.slightly she'tottered to.'tho door and called for help;', Some'-of the; stewards riislied to : her- assistance, '"iind'-:to. them she .told the nature; of ithe outrage sho had undergone. ..- . .;-The polico were' advised of the crime as soon as possible, and Sergt; Lyons and later Chief-Detective Broberg and.Detective Con-' nolly:wcr<v Ebon iupon the 1 scene. . The ship' was searched, , and .a number of men were lined up , for identification by Miss Orr, but ■Bhe. was -hot able to ,recognise any. of : them as -her assailant.-;. Three of: them; .'however, were -hold -under- suspicion, ;■"•' but no arrest ■was-^niade.'..'-.;i;"'.:.:.;v )■■:'■:. '■.■ ■' ..■.■■: i Ji : .:;t--J;/ ;. I'-Dr; Gihner.was summoned, and he did all in his', power to', restore -the. young lady/ who had. suffered/oonsiderably. from .shock in: ad.dition. to.;the.knocking■ about. , . , she hadvbe°h' .submitted-to. ;-v:: ; --*•;■? ;■ '• ' : ;Misß Orr:' that .the: man 'was -of .medium' height ..and- .ago,,.and. :; wore.. a brown -moustache.■:•"■.;.-.>:.u ; ..v.;..'--<- ; -i.-., ■•■■■;■.<,■, :..-:■-.■ v; :C%f-Detective ! ;Broberg, stateS'V'that the case■,is one. of the worst. cases'of deliberate and unprovoked, assault,.that has- over como .under,his .notice; and of a .character quite new .to New Zealand. \ .Tho-police are leaving,no' stone unturned, to track down tho young, lady's - ; : ; : ■.-' ■■