ATTACKED IN A TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12609, 25 June 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

ATTACKED IN A TRAIN.

A LADY'S TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE At , Wigan, in May, John. Riley, described as a salesman, of Manchester, was charged with assaulting a Southport lady whilst travelling on the five minutes past seven train, from Victoria Station, Manchester, to Southport. .. Mr. Wilson appeared on behalf of the notice, and stated that the young lady had ..resided i' in Southport: during the past two years V ; on account ;of »her ill-health. One day she left Southport for Manchester to do some shopping, and arranged to return : home b> " the 'five minutes past seven train. She got into ft third-class carriage, and was immediately followed by prisoner. She gat down, and prisoner came to where she was sitting and put his arms upon her shoulders. She asked him not to do this, and he refused to leave her alone. She noticed that he was slightly under the influence of drink. The prisoner said, "I want you to come homo with me. I have tilenty of money." She said she didn't want his money. ' The complainant managed to free herself and rush to the communication cord and pull it several times, but it failed to act. Defendant struck her in the face and knocked her on -the floor. Whilst on the floor he kicked her in the ribs. She was ultimately able to attract the attention of a Mr. Quiggan, of Huddersfield, a commercial traveller, who was travelling in the same train, and also of some Wigan gentlemen, who bore testimony to her condition upon, the arrival at Wigan. From appearances she had had a most desperate struggle, j her hair being somewhat disarranged, and she was in a most distressed condition when they came to her relief. »:

The complainant, a fashionably-attired lauyi whose name and address were handed to the Bench, and who expressed a desire that they should not have publicity, bore out the'statement of Mr. Wilson. In the course of her evidence she stated that the defendant spoke to liet as she was proceeding to the station, but she took no notice of him. \ She then got in a third-class compartment, being rapidly followed by the defendant, who took his seat in the carriage. There was no time for her to get out. Th© defendant, ; immediately upon the train leaving the station, got up and put his; hand on her shoulder'and said, "I want you to come home with me. I, have plenty of money, and I wish to take you ; away." Witness replied, " I don't want your money, and lam not going away with you." Then commenced a struggle, the defendant persisting in his familiarities. Witness ultimately managed to reach the communication cord, when defendant said, "Oh, you little devil, why did you do that?" He then knocked her down several • times, one blow stunning her. ! He also kicked her on the right side and struck her oa the : head. Upon arrival at Wigan the complainant was in a,state of collapse, and the other passengers whe came by the same train investigated the disturbance that had taken place in the train. The defendant, upon being questioned, said. "It's all right," and was about to proceed from the station, but was detained. Later the complainant- was medically attended, and was then able to proceed home. 'V/';" ''I'' • ( I ■''■■■/■' Mr. Lees, who appeared for the defence, said that his instructions were that when the complainant saw the prisoner in Manchester she smiled, and he smiled back and then stopped. ■ ■ ; Witness denied this, and that ; she spoke to him when- he asked her where she was going. She denied that she asked him to accompany her, and that she had a whisky and soda in Manchester with him. Mr. Lees: I suggest that you not only had one whisky and soda, but that you had two. .Witness: " What a lie!■'.'• How dare you speak to me like that! Witness, continuing, said she had only been five times in Chester during her residence, at Southport, and? did not know much about the place. She had always been accompanied on previous journeys. Prisoner, .on being challenged by the Court; said : " I am not guilty, and I reserve my defence; ?I; should take it as a favour if you will grant me bail." ; - ■». The ; magistrates said they were of opinion that a prima fade case had been made out, and committed the defendant to the Wigan Quarter > Sessions : for trial, t Bail was allowed in sureties of £200. ,'.