CRIMINAL AND BRUTAL ASSAULT AT GREYTOWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1051, 18 April 1882, Page 2

CRIMINAL AND BRUTAL ASSAULT AT GREYTOWN.

A LITTLE GIRL OUTRAGED. CAPTURE OF THE -MISCREANT.

Gteytowh was thrown into great excitement. last night upon a report gaining currency that a littlo girl named O'Connor, about twelve years of age, had been criminally assaulted and dreadfully ill used by a stranger passing through Greytown. It appears .that the ohild, named Eliza O'Connor, aged 10 years, and daughter of Mr John O'Connor, went uaual yesterday afternoon, after school, to bring home the cows for milking. While driving them, a mau ran out upon her from near an old house on the river bed, onoß known as " Little Greathead's house," and tried to oatoh 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 bis grasp got tiff his coat and wrapped it round her head, then lifting her, he carried her off, she knew not whither, She struggled violently and scieamed, but her cries were stifled by the way in which he'covered h'or with his coat. He carried her into the bush and threw her down. She said "Oh, don't kill me 1" 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 itnund 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 Bhe continued to straggle and cry out. Just as he had effected his purpose she heard her father calling in the distance, and she soreamed all the more with what strength she had left. Again the villian hammered her with his fiat, then jumped up;and rail away in the direction of Mr Walker's paddook. The poor girl managed to get home, and her heartrending story and disfigured appearance, both in dress and featuros, created a sensation whioh it is impossible to describe, Upon visiting the child last uight, she presented a pitiable appearance, Her lace was fearfully disfigured, and her eyes were blackened and Bwollen 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, and sandy whiskers. He had -on a dark coat and trousers, and lmt. Dr Bey made an examination last evening, and testifies to the worst having taken place. The clothing, which is torn ana stained with blood, he has taken charge of.' _ ' Search parties were organised as soon ■ as tl)e affair was made known, and' Constable Eccleton immediately took: the matter in hand. The bush at the north : erd of the town was thoroughly searched, ■ but nothing was found but the hat of the villian. and thechild's hat. slate, and books by Mr Pole. This morning early a man answering the description was seen in the Kuratawhiti road, and chase was immediately given by Mr A. Hirachberg and others, but he managod to get into the bush, arid elude his pursuers, having taken the direction of Cotter's mill.. Constable Eccleton,. who had been 111 hia ' saddle all nigljt, and just got back from tupurupunj," where he had gone in search of lnm ; immediately gave chase, and succeeded with the aid of Mr Trotter in running the man to earth on the Moroa s.t 8 o'clock, He was immediately handcuffed and taken to the lock up, his journey through Greytown created in> tense excitement, quite a orowd following tlifl Constable, and the many expression's that fell from them augered bad for him, if he had fell in other hands but the Constables'. On arriving at the : police station the prisoner was searched, but nothing but a few matches and a pipe or two were found on him He is a thin spave man about sft 6|in, Irish, fair complexion, small sandy beard. He give his name to the Constable on this arrest as : James Williams, and also to the child I yesterday, but now said it waß James I William Ellis. He is about 20 years of age. He had no on when arrested, was dressed in a dark tweed suit, the trousers being covered with mucj, especially at the linees. Dr Bey made an examination of him and his ciothes, but the _ result wil! no doubt be made known at his oxamiwh tion to-day. The man hail blood marks about his face, but whother this was dentin tlje chase is not known, all things taken into ponsideratioij points most con chisiyely to tlie prisoner being the villain who committed the dastardly outrage. Too much praise caurjot be giv?n to the Constable for his unremitting energy in following up the pursuit, for had he no done so there was every opportunity f<> the man to have escaped.