VICIOUS ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 13, 15 July 1936, Page 13

VICIOUS ATTACK

BAG SNATCHER FAILS

ALARMED BY CRIES FOR HELP

(By Telegraph—Press' Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Viciously attacked by a bag snatcher in Domain Terrace, Spreydon, late last night, a young woman had an unenviable experience. Fortunately she was able to shriek for help in spite of the man's efforts to stifle, her screams, and her assailant apparently became alarmed and made off on-his cycle. At the time the young woman did not'have her proper handbag with her but only an evening bag, and this the man did not secure. It was after 11.30 p.m. when .she started to walk down the road to her home, which was several hundreds of yards from the tram. She noticed a man on a cycle who eventually rode beside her asking her to accept a. lift home on the bar of the machine. After cycling for a few yards .further the man Jeft his machine and approached the young woman, who broke into a run, although hampered by her evening dress, and high-heeled shoes. At this the man pursued her and soon caught her, bringing her to the ground with a flying tackle from behind.

A struggle ensued on the ground, with the man forcing his fingers into the woman's cheeks in an endeavour to stop her crying out, but there were houses nearby and the woman made no bones about crying for help. This definitely upset the man, who repeated frantically, "Give us your bag," but he gained nothing from the assault and left his victim on the ground arid rushed to his cycle and disappeared