THE MURDEROUS ATTACK ON YOUNG LADIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9010, 15 October 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MURDEROUS ATTACK ON YOUNG LADIES.

0.-r August 10, at Bromley Police Court, Leonard Manktlow, aged 21, described as a fisherman, of Havelock-street, Bromley Common, was charged with shooting Hilda Wood, aged 16, and Edith Philbrick, 14, with intent to murder them, and thereby causing them grievous bodily harm, in a wheatfield at Black brook Firm, in the parish of Ohislehurst. The Rev. Robert Wood, the vicar of Bickley, was the prosecutor. Mr. Bernard Wilson defended the prisoner. The court was crowded, and when the prisoner was brought in ho was weeping bitterly. He was allowed a seat in the dock, and sat with his face buried in his hands. He is a powerfully-built man and was attired as a sailor. The chairman said he only wanted sufficient evidence to justify a remand. Police-constable Penny said that on the 3rd August ho was informed that a girl was lying in a field near Blackbrook Farm unconscious. He went there and found Miss Philbrick lying in a pool of blood. Ho had her conveyed on a hurdle to Viggins Cottage, where he saw Mi-s Wood, who was severely injured, and had shot* wounds on the left side of her face. She made a statement to him, and he afterwards arrested the prisoner on Higgs Farm. The prisoner was then remanded till August 17. Mr. Wood said his daughter would not be able to attend for more than a week. The chairman said in that case there would probably be a formal remand till August 24. At the conclusion of the police court proceedings, as Manktlow was being escorted across the road to the police station by two constables, he was suddenly seized with a fib, and would have fallen to the ground but for their support. A very large crowd had gathered between the court-house and the station, a distance of about 40 yards, and several constables were present keeping order. Three of these at once went forward, and with their assistance Manktlow was carried forward to the police station, where he received medical attention.