DASTARDLY OUTRAGE AT MANGERE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12147, 18 December 1902, Page 5

DASTARDLY OUTRAGE AT MANGERE.

YOUNG WOMAN ATTACKED AT j NIGHT.

BRUTALLY ASSAULTED.

An outrageous attack on a young woman at Mangere occurred on Tuesday night. It appears that about eight o'clock Miss Rouse, 17 years of age, was going from her parents' residence, near the Public Hall, to Mr. Henwood's, where she was in service, and when she had proceeded about half-way along Hie road, which is very lonely, a man overtook her, riding on horseback. When he caught up to her he reined in his horse and asked her where she was going. He also asked her age, both of which questions the young woman answered. '■'.' " ;,

Tho man then dismounted, and, stepping alongside the young woman, put his arm round her waist. As she resented his conduct, and asked him to leave her, he replied that if she screamed he would shoot her. He then stopped his horse, and, lifting the young woman to the side of the road, threw her down, at the same time threatening that if she screamed he would shoot' her. Hl3 threats, however, did not prevent the young woman from screaming. .■'■ Unfortunately there were no houses near, and it is impossible to tell how long the struggle would have lasted had not someone come along that way on horseback. Hearing the sound of the horse's hoofs in the distance, the man relaxed his efforts, and after giving tho young woman a blow in the mouth he mounted his horse and rode off. Miss Rouse lay for some time on the road before she was able to rise, and therefore was unable to inform the second horseman of what had taken place. As soon as possible, she got tip and returned to her father's home. She was in a sad plight. • Her hair was dishevelled, her face lacerated and bleeding, and some of her front teeth knocked out.

Information was given to Senior-Constable Tapp at Onehunga yesterday, and he despatched Constable O'Grady to Mangere to investigate the dastardly outrage. In answer to the constable, Miss Rouse stated that she had been to town that day, it oeing her day off. She returned home by '.he Mangere 'bus, and- stayed with her parents until eight "o'clock.' Asked to describe her assailant, she said he was a man of stout build, clean shaven, and stood about sft 7in in height. She judged him to be about 28 years of nge. He rode a roan horse. She is positive p'ae could identify him if brought faco to face with him. •

The young woman, though v not actually confined to her bed yesterday, was suffering very much from the assault. Much sympathy is felt for Miss Rouse and her parents, who aro all highly, respected at Mangoro and Ihumatao. , '