ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1749, 15 May 1906, Page 1

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.

A LADY SEIZED BY THE THROAT.

ESCAPE OE ABBAILAKT,

(Special to Times.) Auoklaud, Saturday. A lady visitor from Fiji, Miß McCaig, who is stopping at Mrs P. Beaver’s boavdingliouso, on tho corner of tho Quoon’s Parade and Clarencestroet, Hovonport, had a very staitlrag exporionco last night, boing assaulted and to a slight extent injured by a burglar. Mrs Beavor, Mrs McCaig, and two othor lady boardors visited town in the ovoning, returning by tho 10 o’clock boat. Mrs McCaig’s children wore in tho houso, and they retired at about half past nine. On returning from town Mrs McCaig walked into hor bedroom, which was in tho front of the house, a large two-storeyed one, in the dark, and placed hor hat and

cloak on tho bed, a little lator she again entered tho room, put a newspaper beside hor hat and cloak. She then had supper with tho others, and entered the room for tho third time without a light. She had not advanced far into tho room when her foot struck her basket, which was in

he middle of the floor. She wondered

how it got there, but before she could do anything to ascertain the means she was seized by the face and neck by a burglar, who must have been in the room when tho party returned home, and remained in there behind the door when Mrs McCaig entered the room on the two previous occasions. The intruder had the advantage in that his eyes were accustomed to the darkness, while Mrs McCaig had just come out of a strong light. He could see her face, and he effectually gagged her by ramming his fingers down hor throat, absolutely preventing any outcry. Then with tho othor hand ho seized her round tho neck, and oxer ting a great doal of force ho pulled hor towards tho front door, which was slightly ajar. On reaching this he released liis victim and bolted to the roadway. Mrs McCaig then screamed and alarmed the other occupants, of jtfce house, who rushed to the front from the kitchen to see what was the matter. They could immediately see that Mrs McCaig had been assaulted, and rushed to the verandah in search of the intruder. Although’they reached the door in a few seconds there was no sign of tho man, who had disappeared completely. There was no sign of a fugitive on the roadway in front or beside the house, and after jumping the fence the man vanished. Passengers by the 10.30 p.m. boat were then coming along the road, but none of them saw anything of the unwelcome visitor. Mrs McCaig was not very seriously hurt, but she suffered greatly from shock, and after being released she ran down the passage and fainted in Mrs Beaver’s arms, remaining unconscious for some little time. This morning her throat was sore as the result of tho rough handling she received, and she was in a nervous condition, but fortunately sho escaped without further injury,

An examination of the room showed that the thief had gone to work in a very cool and calm manner. He ransacked the boxes and baskets for valu* ables, and from these he secured a haul of ten sovereigns, which had only recently been withdrawn from the bank. He wore rubber-soled shoes, and made no sound while dragging his victim to the door. He must also have been acquainted with the movements of the occupants of the house, and was in all probability aware of Mr Beaver’s absence from Auckland, and of the fact that the adult occupants were out for the evening.

Mrs McCaig did not see Her assailant, owing to the room being in darkness, but she saw enough to convince her that the man was short and thickset. She endeavored to grapple with him as he dragged her towards the door, but could only clutch his collar, and he easily shook her off, Mrs McCaig being in a weak state of health owing to a recent attack of rheumatic fever, from which she is now recuperating. She ascertained that his chin was shaven, her hand coming in contact with his face in the struggle, but beyond that is unable to give any description of the thief. It is supposed that the man is the same one, or a member of the gang, that entered Johnstone and Noble’s store on Wednesday night last.