GIRL'S ORDEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 149, 3 October 1910, Page 6

GIRL'S ORDEAL.

AMAZING WEST END ADVENTURE WITH A THIEF. TELEPHONES W>R POLICE WITH j TIED HANDS. A remarkable account of terrifying experiences was given in -tine witness-box at West London recently by a housemaid ■who alleged! that she had! been attacked by a thief in her master's house. i The accused was Charles Redickerj a German subject, charged with breaking into 66, Oromwell-road, South Kensington, the residence of Mr. Percival Ridout, and stealing several articles of the total vafae of £ls. He was further charged with assaulting Annie Edgimton, •the housemaid. 1 Miss Edginton, a slim, dark girl, told her story with great self-possession. Oo July 23rcl, he said!, the prisoner rang tine area ibeil, andl when she opened the door he iaid, f 'l want money—l am starving." She replied, "I have nothing to give you," | and tried to shut the door. He pushed it against her,, and 1 after a struggle he ! forced Ibis way in, shutting the door with his back. He then tried to put his (hand over her mouth to stifle her cries. Mr. Garrett: Were you alone in the house? I Witness: Quite, sift Continuing,, (the witness stated that she screamed,, and prisoner threw her on the floor. He knelt on her chest, and tried to put a dirty rag into her mouth. Commanding her to put her hands together, prisoner tied them with a piece of tape and demanded, money again. When she dieoiied having any, prisoner exclaimed, "There must be some in the house, somewhere in the bedrooms." Having seized' her wrists the man next took her upstairs and in her master's dressing room secured a watch, chain and a tiepin. In trying to escape, the witness added, she fell dowa a flight of stairs ami lay helpless on the floor, but her assailant dragged her into another room, subsequently exploring the dining-room. The clerk: Did you gjo with Mm? Witness: Oh, yes; he never left me out of his sight. ' The girl proceeded to describe the prisoner's further movements, and said that eventually a blind rattled in one of the rooms. She said, "That's my gentleman." Thereupon the prisoner ran out of the house Iby the back door. She rushed -Upstairs and telephoned for the police. The clenk: You telephoned with your hamdis 'tied? Witness: Oh, yes. Then I went out of the front door and I saw two postmen and one of them cut the tape whilst the other went for the police. •Thle derk (to the prisoner): Have you any questions to ask? Prisoner: No, sir. I only wanted money to get some food. Prisoner was remanded.