BRUTAL ASSAULT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 January 1925, Page 5

BRUTAL ASSAULT

BOY ATTACKS WOMAN. ATTEMPTS TO BURN HER. AMAZING STORY OF CRIME. Bt CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT. Received Jan. 26, ,9.15 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 24. Amazing disclosures were made b> the prosecution in dealing with the charges . against the messenger boy, Oulagi, who was charged with entering a Hyde Park mansion. He made a statement after his arrest to the effect that, being short _of money, he went .to the house. He found the mistress was out, and struck the cook, Miss Bragg, on the head with a hammer. She still fought, and he tried to pour hydrochloric acid over her, but most of it was spilt on the floor. The fumes overpowered her, and he rdagged her out into the hall, raining blows with his fist till she ended her resistance. He then bound her hands and forced her to pilot him through the rooms in search of valuables, after which he gagged her. It dawned on him that he might later have to bring a parcel to the house, and there was a danger of Miss Bragg identifying him, so lie tied her in a chair, fastened it to the bed, piled up papers around it and fired the lot. When he saw the flames had a good hold he locked the door and went home with the booty. He then returned and watched. The police and public gathered round the house, from which Miss Bragg was rescued on the point of suffocation. The boy was remanded. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.