Story of Assault Told by Wife

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 41, 18 February 1937, Page 8

Story of Assault Told by Wife

DRAGGED INTO GARAGE AND ATTACKED, United. Press Association— By Electric Telegraph. —Co py rlgh t. HONOLULU, Feb. 17. The story of an assault recalling the sensational Massie case was told and retold by a navy officer’s wife under protracted police questioning. Mrs. Bennett Copping, aged 24, the wife of a submarine commander, reported that she was dragged from her hotel cottage across 75 feet of open yard into a garage and attacked. A city physician announced, after two examinations, that there was no indications that she had been attacked. The police questioned her throughout last night and to-day, and announced that a third physical examination would be made. The young woman, who was born an] reared in the Philippines, where she married Lieutenant Copping seven years ago, remained calm under questioning. She said that after leaving her hotel room at 5 a.m. following an all-night drinking paity of navy folk, a man suddenly appeared in the hallway, and seized her by the throat. She lost consciousness and recovered in a garage as her assailant Tvas leaving. Mrs. Copping was unable to describe the man, although she said he was an American. She admitted being shortsighted and drinking heavily. This incident recalls tho famous Massie case of several years ago and is similar inasmuch as both women who claimed that they -were criminally assaulted, were wives of American naval officers. The assault on Mrs. Massie took place on tho Alawai Boulevard, near which a beautiful park has since been made. The assailants in tho Massie case were supposed to bo Chinese, Japanese and Hawaiian youths of a degenerate type. This case had severe repercussions all over the United {States, and in Honolulu at that time. Streets in the leading residential sections were patrolled by naval police. This later case may cause a great deal of excitement in the Islands and be the cause of friction between the civil and military residents.