A MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 8

A MYSTERY.

BOUND AND GAGGED.

YOUNG WOMAN AT WHANGAREI FOUND IN SHOP ALCOVE. \,i -i: HAD ATTENDED A DANCE. (From Our. Own Correspondent.) ' WHANGAREI, this day. A sensational discovery was made in a Bank Street shop alcove early this morning, when a young woman was found bound and gagged. • The • circumstances of the case are shrouded in mystery. Mr. Robert Mann, of the Central Dinging Rooms, was proceeding to work at 6.00 a.m. when he saw a girl lying in a draper's doorway. He called Messrs. C. Thompson and S. Wilson and two other men, who were waiting in front of the Post Office for a bus, and they remained with the girl while Mr. Mann telephoned the police station. Constable Sutherland arrived within- a few minutes and removed the bindings. The woman's hands were bound in front of her and her lei'% log was securely tied with a man's scarf; She was also gagged .and unable to utter a sounu. The victim seemed dazed and she has so far been unable to* give- a coherent statement to the police. '■The woman's name is Kathleen Tepo'po and she is about 24 years of age. It is' not at present known whether she is married or single. For some months ,slie has been employed as a waitress in a restaurant and she lives at No. .7, Lover's Lane. Yesterday was her day' oil "and-last night she had supper at tiie restaurant .with a party of friends. It is understood that she then attended a dance at Hukerenui, about 20 miles from Whangarei. Her bed had not been slept in. It is stated that shortly after 0 a.m. she conversed' with a friend half-way down Cameron Street, about six chains from where she was found.