STREET ASSAULT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 11, 14 January 1943, Page 6

STREET ASSAULT

MAN ATTACKS WOMAN

THIRD CASE WITHIN WEEK

Again last night another woman was attacked in the street by a man. The incident occurred at midnight in Erson Avenue, Royal Oak, a young woman being punched and knocked down by the assailant, who escaped when the victim screamed for help. This makes the third attack on an unescorted woman since Saturday, the other cases being in Parnell on Tuesday night and in Remuera on Saturday night. Last night's incident occurred only two doors from the home of the young woman in Erson Avenue. She alighted from a tram at Royal Oak. It was raining lightly at the time. The young woman commenced to run to her home, which was not far away, and as she got near the Baptist Church she heard footsteps, but did not take much notice. Then she observed a man cut across the church grounds and run up alongside her. When she looked at him, the man caught hold of her by one arm and punched her on the face, and she fell on the footpath. When she screamed for help the man placed his hands over her mouth. Just at this moment a man and his wife, hearing the woman s cries, went out into the street in their night attire. As they reached the street they called out, "What s going on? What's the matter? Realising that assistance was at hand the assailant released his hold on the woman and made off. A brother:inlaw of the young woman, on being informed of the incident, gave chase, but could find no trace of the attacker. The couple, who went to the'young woman's assistance, found her bleeding from a cut on the mouth. They took her to their home and rang the police. The police were quickly on the scene, but could not locate the. assailant. The victim of the assault received a nasty cut on the mouth, a black eye and bruises and abrasions on her elbows and knees. She was put to bed, where she will have to remain for a week.