BRUTAL OUTRAGE AT GREYTOWN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1066, 27 April 1882, Page 4

BRUTAL OUTRAGE AT GREYTOWN.

The H airarapa Standard gives the j following particulars of a dreadful ■ assault committed on the daughter of a Greytown resident: —- Ourquiet little township was thrown into great excitement last night upon a report gaining currency that a little girl named O'Connor, about 12 years of age, had been criminally assaulted and dreadfully ill-used by a stranger passing through Greytown. It appears that the child, named Eliza O’Connor, and daughter of Mr John O’Connor, went out as usual yesterday afternoon, after school, to bring home the cows for milking. While driving them, a man ran oiit "upon her from near an old house on the river-bed, once known as “ Little Greathead’s house,” and tried to catch her. The child ran, but he caught her, and in ■doing so dropped his hat. She told him to let her go home, and that her mother would be looking out for her. He, however, paid no attention to her ■pleading, but holding her tightly in his grasp, got off his coat and wrapped it round her head ; then lifting her, he •carried her off, she knew not whither. She struggled violently and screamed, but her cries were stifled by the way in which he covered her with his coat. He carried her into the bush, and •threw her down. “ She said, “Oh ! -don’t kill me.” He replied, “ I don’t ■want to kill you.” She commenced to ■scream again as he proceeded to assault her, and he then clutched her by ■the neck and struck her four or five heavy blows in the face. Then he took off his necktie, and tied it round her mouth, nearly choking her, and also tried to force a stone into her mouth. He tore her clothes into tatters, and again and again struck her with his fist because she continued to struggle -and cry out. Just as he had effected his purpose she heard her father calling in the distance, and she screamed .-all the more with what strength she had left. Again the villain hammered her -with his fist, then jumped up and ran =away in the direction of Mr Walker’s paddock. The poor girl managed to get home, and her heartirending Story and disfigured appearance, both in dress and features, cremated asensation which it is impossible to describe. Several volunteered to search the locality, but it was thought better to leave it till the morning, in •order that footmarks might not be obliterated. Eccleton, with great promptitude took the matter in hand, but up to the time of our going to press we have not heard he has succeeded in tracing the roan. Upon visiting the child last night she presented a pitiable appearance. Her face was fearfully disfigured, and her eyes were blackened and swollen with the blows she had received. She gave a very clear and intelligent account of all that happened, and described the man as having a red face, sandy whiskers, and rather stout. He had on a black coat, trousers, and hat. Dr. Bey rmade an examination last evening, and testifies to the worst having taken place. The clothing, which is torn and stained with blood, he has taken ■charge of. Erom inquiries made last night, we learn that three individuals with swags came into Greytown from the direction of Carterton. One of them answers to the description given. He is jabout sft. Bin. in height. Later information states that Constable Eccleton arrested the offender yesterday morning as he was making his way to the ranges. There is no ■doubt as to his identity, though at the -time of his arrest his name was uninown.

LATEST PARTICULARS. 'THE CULPRIT ARRESTED. The Standard published the following in«n Extra During the whole of last night Messrs Haines, Hebley, Ryan, Pole, Hobman, Cole, Bowers, Hirschberg and Braggins, were on the ■watch. A_t daybreak this morning thev divided into couples and commenced a search. Hirschberg and Hobman took the south side of the Black Bridge, and for a while waited ■•quietly in vain. Suddenly, as Hirsch■berg was looking round, he caught -sight of a man named Morgan, and another individual in company with him. It appears that Morgan travelled with the man on the way from Masterton, and having been at Mr •Quin’s Hotel for the night, had heard ■what had occurred. When (lie saw Hirschberg he put up his hand as a sign that his companion was the man. Hobman and Hirschberg then made .made for the two men. The prisoner, ■observing this, struck off across the jiver bed, in the direction of Kurati•whiti. “ That’s the man,” said Morgan, as Hirschberg and Hobman passed him. Then ensued a most exciting chase across King’s paddock, past Reece's house into O'Connor’s bush, out again and down the Kurati-•whiti-road. This side of iSaywell’s dhe culprit made over the fences for ■ihe bush again, and by some unearthh means, managed to slip his pursuers. Binding a search useless, and fearing if they spent too much time he would ■get through the bush and escape altogether, .they returned and reported that they had been on the track, and • and he had taken to the bush. Several persons then went out to continue the search. Constable Eccleton upon hearing the mews last night, immediately mounted his horse and rode off to Gladstone, accompanied by Constable Bennet, of Carterton, whom he

picked up on the way. The supposition was, that the man had made for that direction After lying in wait all night, Constable Eccleton returned to Greytown between G and 7 this morning, keeping a strong look out all the way. Receiving information that a a man had been seen about the bridge at the North end of Greytown, he rode off to Kuratiwhiti to intercept him in getting through the bush. At Humphrey’s line he met John Ryan, who said he believed prisoner was in the bush. Ryan rode on to the pnperty of Mr Cotter, sen., while Constable Eccleton stayed at Mr Cotter’s, jun. He bad not been there long before he saw a man cross the railwayline a good distance off. He rode in that direction with all speed, and met Mr Trotter, who sang out, “ he's gone across the plain.” The place here was very rough, but Constable Eccleton urged his horse furiously over the boulders, believing he was on the right track. He was not long before he came up with a young man, bareheaded. Drawing his revolver, which was loaded, he dared the man to move. The wretch stood, and shook violently with fear. Dismounting, the constable put the handcuffs upon him, to which he offered no resistance. He gave the name of Williams. Constable Eccleton, however, cautioned him in the usual way. Mr Helby was the first to join the constable after the arrest, and they brought the man into town. The spectacle of the culprit bare-headed and in handcuffs, with Constable Eccleton by his side, the horsemen, and the followers on foot, with the groups on each side of the street, anxious to get a glimpse of the prisoner, was highly sensational. The prisoner was taken to the lockup, where his clothes were subjected to a minute investigation, as also he was himself, by Dr. Bey, when stains of blood where found on his clothes. He is a young man of about twenty years of age, of medium height and build. He is rather sharp in features, and his chin and upper lip are covered with reddish hair. He now gives his name as James William Ellis.