BRUTAL ASSAULT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 190, 13 August 1934, Page 3

BRUTAL ASSAULT.

AGED WIDOW ATTACKED. YOUNG MAORI CHARGED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. Mrs. Cecelia Payne, a widow, 77 years of age, was brutally assaulted at her cottage in Richmond Street, where she was living alone, about seven o'clock on Saturday evening. Hemi (Jimmy) Ake, aged 20, of Hikutaia, was placed under arrest. It is stated that the accused was heavily under tho influence of liquor, and had previously visited a number of neighbouring houses, from which he was promptly turned away. Some time later Mrs. G. Fisher, who lives next door to Mrs. Payne, and whose husband is Mrs. Payne's nephew, was preparing to leave by car for a dance at Hikutaia, when she heard groans coming from the rear of Mrs. Payne's residence. Another Thames resident, Mr. Henry Brownlee, who was passing at the time, also heard the groans and inquired of Mrs. Fisher. On learning that Mrs. Payne lived alone, Mr. Brownlee, with Mrs. Fisher, went to investigate, and discovered Mrs. Payne lying in a semi -conscious condition in the backyard, with her clothing torn and her face badly bruised. They saw a young man jump the dividing fence into Fisher's place, where he got tangled up in some bushes which had been cut down. Mr. Brownlee grappled with him and hold him until the police arrived in answer to a telephone message from one of the houses which the man had previously visited.

Dr. J. B. Liggins was called and found Mrs. Payne suffering from severe shock, and severe bruises to the face. She was in a serious* condition owing to hcant weakness, for which she had recently been undergoing treatment in hospital. She took a turn for the better early yesterday morning, and last evening her condition was reported to be greatly improved, although she was still suffering badly from shock. Ake is a well-known "footballer, having played half-back for the Thames Rugby representatives during the past few seasons. He was to have played for Thames on Saturday in the representative match against Hauraki Plains, but the Rugby Union officials declined to allow him to take the field on account of his condition as the result of a drinking bout. Accused was charged in the Police Court this morning, before Messrs. J. W. Danby and N. Jonassen, J.P.'s, with an attempted grave offence. On the application of the police accused was remanded for a week. Counsel, Mr. C. J. Garland, said he would not apply for bail owing to the serious condition of tho victim. The latter was reported to be improving to-day.