A Desperate Struggle.

Evening Star, Issue 7355, 29 October 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Desperate Struggle.

On the night of August 27 a dastardly outrage was perpetrated on Miss Catherine Seragg, twenty-two years of age, and & teacher at St. Michael’s School, Shrevsbury, whilst travelling in a railway train from Wellington, on returning from her holidays, which she had been spending in Staffordshire. The train did not reach Shrewsbury until twelve minutes past nine o’clock, being five minntes late, while it had not stopped during the previous eleven miles. On its arrival Detective-superintendent Baxter happened to be on the platform, Mid observing that the door of a third-class compartment was open, be went up and discovered Miss Seragg in the carriages an excited condition, and covered with blood. In an adjoining compartment he saw a man’s hat, while the doors, windows, and floor bore traces of a severe struggle. The young lady made to the police the following statement :

“ I had been away on my holidays, and was returning home to commence leaching on Monday. I booked from Stoke-on-Trent at 6,40 this evening. At Wellington aU my fellow-passengers left the compartment and just as the train was starting a rough-looking man got in and sat opposite me. When the train started he asked whether the train stopped between Wellington and Shrewsbury. I did not reply, and then he came and sat down by my side. He said he had a wife in Shrewsbury, to whom he was. going, and put his arm round my waist. I said I would call for help, whereupon he struck me on the face, laid hold of me by the throat, and endeavored to throw me down, but did not succeed. I struggled to the utmost of my might, and how I resisted him—a big, strong man, who seemed the worse for drink—l do not know. I opened the door and got upon the step—of course screaming for help—and then upon the footboard. The train was travelling more rapidly than usual, being late. The man followed, and I got to the next compartment, where a gentleman (Mr Graham, barrister, of Shrewsbury) pulled me in through the window.” Mr Graham told the station authorities that the closing scene in the assault had taken place, as near as he could about half a mile outside Shrewsbury station. As the man was believed to have jumped out, four men with a stretcher were without delay despatched along the line. After traversing some distance they found, tying at the side of the permanent way; a big, rough-looking fellow, who answered to the discription given by the young lady. He was insensible, and was to the . Shrewsbury Infirmary. He gave his name as James Grice, of Tipton, Staffordshire,and was apparently about thirty-five years of age. Miss Seragg states that when die got .out of the carriage the man Grice first rioted the door upon her, and she rode for some distance on the footboard. Afterwards he opened the door, and then she shifted.along to the carriage in which Mr Graham was riding, and got in through the window, when Grice disappeared. It has been ascertained that Grice has for some time been employed at the Castle Ironworks, Wellington. He is a stout, burly fellow, and it is thought by some to be scarcely credible • that any young lady could wrestle with so powerful.an opponent for fifteen minutes and ultimately get free. He was seen to enter the train just as it was starting from Wellington, and appears to, have watched his opportunity for entering the compartment, wherein Miss; Seragg sat alone. The compartment has been Inspected by the authorities, who report that the cushions, doors, and windows were besmeared with blood; parcels were scattered about the floor; and there were other signs characteristic of a terrible straggle having ensued,—Detective Morris, Shrewsbury, has found that at about half-past' seven on Saturday evening—the night the outrage was committed —Grice entered the billiard-room at the Station Hotel, Wellington, kept by Mr Pointon, who, seeing he was a rough-looking character, ordered him out, A few minutes later he commenced kicking at the door of the smokeroom, but was made to desist; and shortly afterwards the Euston express came up. In which Miss Seragg was travelling. He was, it has been ascertained, an inmate of Staffordshire Asylum for four or five years, and when he came out he enlisted in the army, went to India, had fever, was invalided home, and discharged. He subsequently enlisted again, and, on its being discovered that he had been previously discharged, he was punished for wrongful enlistment. In spite of this, however, he enlisted again, but only to receive at an early date a further punishment and another discharge. He appeared to have been tramping about the country doing odd jobs. He has generally been regarded as a very eccentric character. Until recently he was supposed to have been dead and buried at Aboroarne, Mon. About twelve months ago it seems that he was employed at an ironworks at Abercarne, and one day he suddenly disappeared from his lodgings. Some time afterwards, the body of a man' was found on one of the pit banks, bearing indications of suffocation by the fnmes l from ashes upon which he it seems had laid down to sleep. Inquiries were made by the police, and the landlady with whom Grice lodged, and also other persons living in the same house, identified the body as that of George Grice. A coroner’s inquest was held, and the body was buried In the name of George Grice, of Tipton, the identical man now lying in Shrewsbury Infirmary. His; parents were also parties to the extraordinary mistake, and believed their son to be dead, until some time afterwards whenno appeared at his home once more. Grice still lies in the Shrewsbury, Infirmary in a serious condition, but'Mias Seragg is stated to be fast improving, Home paper. : • ■ 1