A BRUTAL ASSAULT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1920, Page 4

A BRUTAL ASSAULT

WELLINGTON, March 9. A daring criminal assault was penetrated late on Saturday night in the vicinity of Aro Street, upon a girl about eighteen years of age. It appears that the girl was proceeding home by car, and after alighting was walking along a lonely portion of the road when sho stooped down to stroke a. kitten across her path. A mail who had come up behind her suddenly struck her blowon the head, almosting knocking her un conscious. He dragged her across to a gravel pit where she struggled and screamed.

The man thrust his fist into the girl’s mouth and struck her a severe blow in the face, and in struggling with her tore her clothes almost to ribbons. Just then a man and two women camo along, and this caused the attacker to desist. In order to throw off suspicion lie commenced to abuse the girl, accusing her having of attempted to rob him. The girl in the meantime was too dazed to cal! for help. The man then walked away hurriedly, and as soon as he got out of the light ran up the hill and disappeared amongst some gorse. The girl staggered to her feet and informed the other man of all that had taken place. The victim was in a pitiable plight, one eye being black and almost closed, the mouth fearfully cut about, and the head badly bruised. Fortunately the timely arrival of the men and two women saved the girl from worse injury. The police are actively . concerning themselves in the matter.