ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 159, 30 July 1909, Page 2

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. | Chrietcliurch, Last Night. The two men wlio were arrested by Constables OX3onnor and Terranee for breaking and entering a nursing homo, have been identilied l>v tlie victim ot the assault and rubbery case neur the imperial Hotel as her assailants.

A young woman who had been visit- \ •ng iriends in St. Asaph street was returning to her hom« at about 10.30'0n Tuesday evening, ami her way took her past the Imperial Hotel, As she turned 1 into Barbadoos street she noticed two 1 men standing at the north-western corner of Uarbadoes and St. Asaph streets. One of them was dressed in a long blue overcoat. As she hurried along JJarbadocs street the two men crossed the road, and followed her. At the corner of Tuain street, one of the men caught her and placed one of his hands over her mouth. The other mail came up, and commenced to rille her pockets. She screamed, and the first man struck her three times, once over the temple. IJer .screams, however, attracted the attention of a man parsing along Tuam street, lie ran to her assistance, and the two men fled. They did not succeed m takiug anything, but the rough handling to whicli the woman was subjected was shown unmistakably by the coalition of her face, whicli was covered in blood. On the right eye there was a large bruise considerably swollen, and on the left side of the face there was a deep scratch about two inches in length, which had probably been caused by a ring or finger-nail. She says that "she could not identify the men, because they came up behind her. Neither of theni spoke. Early the next morning Constables Torrent and O'Connor heard that there wore two undesirable characters in Durham Street South. They went to the locality, and found n light in the district r urge's office. Constable Torrens went to the back door and Constable O'Connor to the front entrance. They entered simultaneously, and one man rushed out nt O'Connor, who, however, used [ his baton with telling effect, incapaciI tating his opponent. Torrens, hearing j the noise of a struggle, ran to the front 1 of the building and found the second 1 man armed with a bottle. There was another "mix up." in which the officer's s baton was efficacious.

The two jiieTi, George Nottingham and Frederick Win. Dennett, appeared at I the Magistrate's Court, and were charg-' ed with having broken into and entered a liouso ,with intent to commit a crime. They were remanded to August 4. Since the arrest of the two men, the police have received information of several cases of women being attacked by two men. ami on<> woman has identified one of the ujcu as one of the pair that attacked her.