WILD WEEK-END.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 March 1925, Page 3

WILD WEEK-END.

ROUGHS RUN MELBOURNE. ... FIGHTS' ANDi HOLD-UPS. Melbourne’s, bad record for lawlessness was added to. with a vengeance last* week-end, when roughs appear to have come into the open, and carried out their raids without any fear of police, or the consequences' of their own acts (writes, the Auckland Star’s Sydney correspondent). Four wlomeni were, held up in the Richmond) district on Saturday night, within 20 minutes. In only one instance was an arrest made. A machinist was returning to her home in Richmond about 8 p.m., when she was caught by the wrist by a man wearing a cap, drawn well down over his eyes. His only greeting was a demand for her money, and he grabbed her handbag, which contained a purse. She reached home in a state of collapse. In the same street, a few minutes later, another woman resident of Richmond was seized. She was searched by the same man, but had; no valuables, and the assailant discarded her. Ten minutes later two sisters returning home to Richmond were seized by a man who demanded money. Grabbind hold of a, large, handbag carried by one of the sisters, he attempted to make off with it when the other woman grappled with him. They, gave him a rough time of it, and suceeded in holding him for a time. He escaped again, but the cries of the sisters were heard by four men, who stopped the fugitive and held him until the arrival of a policeman. At St. Kilda, too, two young women were held up, and as a result of the assault one is in hospital in a critical condition. The injured woman was returning to. her home when a young man accosted her. She screamed, and her assailant struck her on the head. The other woman lost her handbag to a man who snatched it and disappeared before she could raise the alarm. A. constable received a very rough handling at the hands of a._ crowd in Fitzmy Street, Fitzroy. lie had spoken to several men and women, and they turned and attacked him.

He was kicked into insensibility, a big crowd taking part in the assault on the constable. Only one of the scores who witnessed the assault came to the constable’s assistance, and when he appeared standing over the policeman’s form, more roughs joined those who had started the affair, and the civilian also received a. rough handling. The constable regained his feet, but was kicked and struck again. . The civilian battled his way to a telephone and informed the Fitzrog police, and assistance was sent. Two arrests were made, and the constable was taken to hospital, where the civilian was also treated for extensive injuries.