EXTRAORDINARY CHASE AFTER A WOMAN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1135, 31 August 1882, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY CHASE AFTER A WOMAN.

A scene of an extraordinary nature took place in the public streets of Sydney last week, and created considerable sensation and no little amusement. A well-dressed woman (says the “ Sydney Evening News”) had vituperated and severely assaulted a man with whom she had cohabited in Melbourne, because he had left her and came to reside with his family in Sydney. After giving the man an unmerciful beating and the length of a pretty long tongue, she sprang into a cab, and was about being driven eff when the man caught hold of the cabhorse’s head, and refused to allow it to proceed, at the same time looking around for a policeman to givehisfair assailant in charge. This occurred in Hunter street, close to Pitt street. A crowd soon collected, and what with the noise of angry voices and the extraordinary situation of affairs, tho * I excitement soon ran high. After the cabman had in vain endeavored to move his horse on, the woman darted out of the vehicle into another hansom that was close by. Cabman No. 2 at once proceeded to make off with his fair fare, but the assailed one was equal to the occasion, and promptly seized the second horse and stoppea it, progress andat the same time sent for policeman to take the woman in charge. The luxury of a policeman however not to be obtained. After the lapse of some minutes, a third cab drove up, and the woman made for this, but the pursuer was again to the fore, and held her in check. At all this the crowd, which had gone on accumulating every minute, was highly amused. Presently, a cabman hove in sight, who seemed to have more “ go” in him and in his horse than either of his predecessors, for when the fugitive woman (who, by the way, seemedto enjoy the fun immensely), got into his cab, he drove off up Hunter etreet with the assaulted party pluokily hanging on to the head 4 of his horse, Very little ptogaess, however, was made up George street, the oab being brought to a standstill by the numerous crowd that had fol. lowed. The woman tried the ruae of making for other cabs, but her implao. able pursuer was on her track and kept her at bay, in defiance of the jeers and Lootings of the mob, whose sympathies were naturally with the “ weaker vessel.” This sort of thing ! was continued for some time longer, and eventually pursued aud pursuer, with the accompawimeuts of oabs and crowd, got as far as York street, in front of the Post Office Hotel. Here the excitement became intense, for a| last, after the lapse of nearly half-aii. hour, a policeman put in on appear: anee, The assaulted party fhereupop proceeded to give the woman into custody, wheu Mr John M'Elhone, M.P., who happened to be on the spot, and to have somehow found himself ■< surrounded by an excited crowd, pointed out to the constable that as hp had pot sepn the assault ppmmitted he had no power to take the accused into custody. The constable saw the force of this, and let the woman go. This was the signal for a roar of something like triumph from the Crowd, and there was some indication that a row would eventuate. After a considerable amount of hustling and altercation, the woman slipped through the mob, and once more made for the nearest cab. This time she succeeded in making her escape, for her whilom lover was detained long enough in tho crowd to allow her a good start. Still he made chase immediately he was liberated, but he was evidently I “ winded,” and after a hot run along ( York-street and down Druitt-street, I he had to give up the chase, for the I fair one was lost to sight, though doubtless to memory dear —very dear. 1 It is probable, however, that tho affair will be further heard of through I the medium of the police courts, as the * j aggrieved party appears determined not to let the matter rest.