A VIOLENT ASSAULT.

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1910, Page 3

A VIOLENT ASSAULT.

YOUNG WOMAN TERRIBLY INJURED.

NEAR A MELBOURNE ASYLUM

MELBOURNE, Sunday.—Mary Cook, n wardress, employed at Yarra Bend Lunatic Asyl-'in, was found this morning lying in the asylum grounds unconscious ana terribly injured. Every garment site wore was ripped and torn to rags with such ferocity had che been attacked. The injured woman was removed to I the asylum, where medical assistance was summone i. It was found that she had been fiendishly dealt with by an assailant, who must have been powerful. Evidently she had fought gamely. Both her eyes were blackened. Her lips were lacerated, and some of her teeth smashed. Her body and limbs were covered with bruises and abrasions. Evidently she had been dragged about l.v the feet, her eyes, nostrils, and mouth being filled with dust. The matter was reported to the police, but though she momentarily regained consciousness the young woman lost her sn:ses again before being able to answer the first question put to her. She was then removed to <he Melbourne Hospital, where a closer examination showed that she had been the victim of criminal assault and that she had sustained conclusion of the brain. Inquiries made by the police show that Miss Cook, who had been visiting her sister at West Melbourne, left at 10 o'clock to go to the asylum, taxing as part of the route a f,hort cut along the paih, about a mile long. Apparently she had progressed safely along this until within 3SO yards of ihe asylum, where she was attacked. Tbe ground was torn up, and in addition to yice- of women's clotMng anc , a handbag she was carrying tac detective-, discovered a button torn from a man's; clothing. It was; suggested that the crime had been committed by a lunatic, but no evidence has been secured upon which to base such a suggestion. No arrest has yet been mali\ Mis? Cook regained consciousness to-night, but is still in a very low condition.