A PECULIAR AFFAIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1917, Page 4

A PECULIAR AFFAIR.

A YOUNG GIRL ASSAULTED

A peculiar assault occurred yesterday afternoon in the. office of Air. O. R. E. Dorton, Hamilton oireet.

It appears that .Miss Daisy Foote, daughter of Air. and Airs J. Foote of Gibson Quay, who is clerk and typistc for Air. Bor ton, had returned to the office after lunch some time before two o’clock. She bad occasion to go to the ' Post Office, and locking the front door 'of the office, returned in about live J minutes. On unlocking the door Reading into the main office, and stepping inside, a towel was thrown over her head and wrapped tightly over her eves, while a handkerchief was put into her mouth, gagging her and preventing ! her from making any outcry. The in- ! t,ruder then -tied her hands together at

the wrist with pieces of string, very , tightly, and then hurriedly left the 1 room, whether hv the front door 'or by a side door leading into the hack yard being apparently i unknown. From then all trace was lost. The young lady some time after made her way to the side door and stepping across a passage way made her entrance into a side door of Messrs Lewis and Wells’ office, where a young lady clerk there came to, her aid and at once called in Air. Wells and Air Sellers, who were engaged in a business transaction in an adjoining room. The young girl was in a fainting condition aud the towel and gag were removed and her hands loosened. She was then taken into Dr. Teichelmann’s surgery, .two doors away, (or attention, and s °on, came too. The police were at once communicated with and Sergt Follev and Constable Bennett were soon on the spot making an investigation. It was found that though a number of papers were scattered about, that they had apparently boon disturbed in the struggle. A cash box on the table in the room with notes and silver was not disturbed, while apparently nothing else had' been taken. At present the matter stands without elucidation of the motive of the assault. The young lady had recovered from her rough experience last night, when she was apparently none the worse for her adventure except that she was upset as a result of her unpleasant experience.