ATTACK IN DARKNESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 10

ATTACK IN DARKNESS

YOUNG- AUCKLAND WOMAN

SAVAGE BLOW ON HEAD

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 15. Attacked by an unknown man and struck on the head with a sandbag or some similar weapon, a young woman, Miss Edith Gaunt, of 66 Portland Road, Remuera, was injured while walking near her home shortly after dark. The . girl screamed for help and succeeded in frightening her assailant, who ran off into the darkness and disappeared. The assault was committed' at 7.15 : as Miss Gaunt was walking in Portland : Road from the direction of Remuera towards her home. She had reached a dark part of the street, when, without warning, she was struck savagely 'on the head. A glancing blow which struck the side of the young woman's head did not "stun her, as her assailant apparently intended, and although frightened and temporarily dazed Miss Gaunt was not knocked down, and she promptly screamed. Without renewing the assault the man made off and was lost in the darkness. Suffering from shock, Miss Gaunt ■screamed repeatedly, and called for help. Her cries were heard by the driver of a passing taxi-cab, who stopped and drove her to her home. In spite of a large swelling on one side of her head, Miss Gaunt did not suffer sufficient injury to require medical attention. No attempt was made to snatch her handbag. No trace was found of the weapon with which the assault was committed, and the investigations had not resulted in an arrest at a late hour.