A WILD WEEK-END

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 March 1925, Page 8

A WILD WEEK-END

ROUGHS RUN MELBOURNE

RIGHTS AND HOLD Ui

MANY ACCIDENTS

SYDNEY, Feb. 26

Melbourne's bad record lei* lawlessness was added to with a vengeance last v celt-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 says tii,. Sydney corespondent to the Auckland Si ill". Four women were held up in the Richmond district on Saturday night, within 20 minutes. In only one instance was an arerst made. A machinist was returning to Iter home in Richmond about- 8 pi.m., when .dm was caught by the wrist by a man wiuring a cap, drawn well down over Ins even. Uis only greeting .was a demand id,- |n;r money, and he grabbed her handbag, which contained a purse. She xeachci home in a state of collapse.

NUMBERS BEAT HIM In the same street, a few minutes later, another woman resident of Kicii-mr.-nd was seized. She was searched b;-’ the same man. but had no valuables, and the assailant- discarded her. _ Ten minutes later two sisters returning home to Richmond were accosted hv a man who demanded money. Grab Inn" bold of a large handbag carried bv 'one of the sisters, he attempted to make oil with it when the. other woman grapple with him. , Titov gave him a rough time ot it, and succeeded in holding him lor a time, lie escaped again, but the cries of the sislers were heard by four men, who stopped the fugitive and held him until Hie arrival of n policeman. At St Hilda, 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. Ths> other woman lost her handbag to a man who snatched it and disappeared before •the could raise the alarm.

A STREET BATTLE A constable received a. very rough handling at the hands of a crowd in Eitzvoy Street, Fitzroy. He 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"o assistance, and when heappeared standing over the policeman » form, more roughs joined those who had started the affair, and fhe 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 Fitzroy police, and assistance was sent. Two’ arrests were made, and the constable was taken to hospital, where the ciivlian was also treated for extensive injuries.

MANY ACCIDENTS There were many accidents during the hectic week-end. Walter Mitchell and .Tames Ilogan were walking along the train-line near r.ilydaJc, when they were overtaken by tlie* train from Warburton to Melbourne. Both men were struck before they could move out- of danger, and were killed.

As the result cf an accident while lie was rabbiting, Robert Stafford, of Fitzioy, was killed. He was kneeling down at* the mouth of n rabbit burrow ready ro catch the escaping rabbit- when a comrade .who thought, one of the rabbits was escaping, fired. Stafford rose at the same moment, and received the charge in the face, almost blowing his head from Sue shoulders.

George Barnes, of Kotv, was killed near Weyribee when his cycle capsized as the result of a back tyre blow-out.

Jean McKenzie, of Coburg, was in a quarry hunting rabbits with a party, when she picked up a pea-rifle. It exploded. and the shot passed through her upper abdomen, injuring her in such a manner that- she was admitted to hospital in a critical condition. Motor smashes were numerous, though in most of them the occupants escaped with slight injury.