PLUCKY GIRL

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1932, Page 2

PLUCKY GIRL

FIGHTS WITH BARE FISTS.

KNOCKS OUT BANDIT

LONDON, March 19.

A plucky blonde-haired girl, Miss Mick Jeansen, who fought a notorious Corsican bandit with bare fists Lr c.n hour and a half and knocked him out, Was subsequently avenged when Joseph Bartoli, “King of the Maquis” wns shot dead. She was touring Corsica by motorcoach accompanied by her convalescent sister and'anotlnr girl, when suddenly a cry rang out: “Hands up! If anyone moves I’ll shoot! Step down with vour valuables”

A carbine was pointed at them over the top of a big rock. Behind the sights glared a pair of fierce black eyes. The bandit, Joseph Marie Battesti, took the tourists’ cash and jewellery, and was dismissing them when Joseph Bertoli stepped from behind a rock and ordered Miss Jeansen to be kent t.s a hostage. The others were forced to drive off.

HAMMER AND TONGS. The bandits made Miss Jeansen follow them into the bush. “We need a cook and housekeeper, and we will just keep you for that,” they told her gruffly. “Besides, we like blondes.” The girl decided to resist. Battesti ’caught her arm and tried to force her on. Miss Jenr.sen braced herself and threw him off. Physically, she was his superior, for she is six- feet tall and powerfully built, while Battesti is medium sized and slender. But he had a carbine, an automatic pistol, and a long knife.

Battesti launched a ' blow at her with his fist. Miss Jeansen countered -and they went at it, punching each other with all their might.

Bartoli, the other bandit, stood aside. “You fool,” he shouted t" 1 Battesti, “why don’t you kill her?”

“I am going to take her alive.” Battesti yelled.

Bartoli raised his carbine to aim at the girl but Battesti prevented him. Bartoli was so disgusted that he (Talked off.

Battesti then started another tout and the girl fought like fury.

A SPARK OF CHIVALRY

f ‘lt was like a nightmare, of course,” Miss Jeansen said when she arrived at Paris afterwards. ‘T must have fought for an hour and a half. He had hi s automatic and knife in ITs belt, and he could have killed me any instant, but he either had a spark of chivalry or lie wanted to satisfy his vanity that lie could capture me alive. In a way the Man was decent. “We sihipiy fOugilt like beasts. iVtoSfc of the clothes were ripped off me, and his own clothes wel'e torn to shreds, too. After .fighting and scratching for 10 to 15 minutes ive were so exhausted that we would sit down and simply look at each other. Then Battesti would jump up and we would go at it again. “I saw 1 had to finish the business quickly, and when we got into a clinch I landed one terriffic blow that knocked him flat on his back. He could not even move. “I was too exhausted to run away. At last I started hack, was found by a motorist, and taken to the nearest town.” Battesti was captured a few days later. At the trial, Miss Jeansen made such a warm plea in his favour that he got off with 20 year’s instead of losing his head.