THE BRIXTON OUTRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12663, 17 September 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BRIXTON OUTRAGE.

"m MYSTERIOUS CRIME.

.Sin tout-rage of a most sensational and serious character occurred at Brixton shortly before twelve p.m. on July 23. The victim was Mr. Browning, the manager of Messrs. Greig's provision stores in the Atlantio Road. The shop was practically closed about half past eleven p.m., and the last of the .assistants departed, leaving Mr. Browning, who was engaged in finishing certain accounts, tc lock up and see all safe. While Mr. Browning was making tip the cash, which is known to have amounted to £170, a man rapped at the door. What ruse he used to gain admittance may bo hazarded, and it was not to make a purchase. The ruse was such that it kept Mr. Browning engaged for a few minutes in questioning the man. Then he probably ordered.him out of the shop, and turned himself to open the door. It. was at this moment that the man rushed at his victim and struck him down sb full view of one of his fellow workers.

At the moment of the crime the crowd was thinning, but there were still scores of •people about. However, a drunken quarrel —strangely opportune foi the thieves — drawn away the attention o* the constable on point duty, at the corner of Atlantic Road, and also the attention of a good many , of the wayfarers. It was not until a few minutes after tho commission of the crimejust as the last batch of people were coming out of the Railway Hotel oppositethat a passer-by named Mr. H. G. Bantick, of Tintern-street, Brixton, was startled by the sight of blood running across the pavement from the shop. Looking inside, he saw Mr. Browning lying close, to the door with a ghastly wound on his head, and he immediately sent io;r the police. To all appearances the man was dead, and in this belief the police covered his face with a white cloth. But the divisional police surgeon who was summoned pronounced him to be still alive, although his skull was shockingly fractured. Mr. Browning was thereupon removed to St. Thomas' Hospital. Just after the attack a woman who was Walking along the Atlantic Road stated that she was knocked down by a man who seemed to be in a violent hurry, sustaining injuries which necessitated surgical attendance. She fcas supplied a description of the man in question. It is believed that two or more of a gang, learning of Mr. Browning's habits, went to the Atlantic Road for the purpose of assaulting and robbing him. It was Mr. Browning's custom to make up the cash alone on Saturday night. According to the information given to Detective-inspector Allen, the intention was to make the attack more than a week ago. For some reason this plan was mot carried out. On the Thursday night a chance remark was dropped by one who was familiar with the gang's movements. He wag surprised, he said, that the plot had miscarried. An employee in a public-house near Brixton heard the remark. When ho read of the outrage he failed to connect the remarks he had overheard with the tragedy. Inspector Allen was not so slow to perceive tho connection, and has been at work on the slue. ■ . '.'...'"

; Mr. Browning lay unconscious in St. Thomas' Hospital from July 23 until August 5, when he recovered sufficiently to recognise his wife. Mr. David Greig, the proprietor of the shop, has offered a reward of £150 for information that will lead to the conviction of the robber. In addition to this the police have offered a further reward of £150. The police circulated the following:—-.', "Wanted, for assault and robbery, at drag's stores, Atlantic Road, Brixton, on the night oi July 23, a man answering the following description:— 25 years old, medium height, round face, rough skin, dressed in brown jacket suit, high standing collar, and bard felt hat, with a wide brim." The latest discoveries all point to one man as the perpetrator of the assault. His identity is still a mystery, but the police hope to snare him by means of*his published description. The police how have a clue in their possession, and will fasten the crime on the guilty party beyond possibility of erroi. ■: - ; ~ % One of Mi. Greig's employees actually saw, as ho passed the Atlantic Road stores on Saturday night, Wo men apparently playing a game of some kind in the closed shop. He thought they were two clerks skylarking after closing time, and went on his way. It was a serious error, for there is no doubt bat that he actually saw the assault committed. Here is his own story: — "I glanced through the grating of the closed door as I passed. The lights were burning inside. Those outside were extinguished. At first I saw only o:a« figure. It was a man who came running down the fioor from the back of the shop. As he reached the door I noticed another man standing by the door. The other struck fen/ as I thought, on the back. I went ore my way, never dreaming it was anything but a playful attack. I believe the man was short,. and Chat he had no hat on. That is all I noticed about him." One woman saw the man also. j She looked in through the grating and saw Mr. Browning's inanimate t>ody lying upon the floor of the shop. Just then a man approached the grating, and this cut off her view. He opened the door and stepped out. the woman asked him what was wrong. . " Only a man fainted. I am going ioi a 'doctor, he-said. , This man walked about a dozen yards, and then took to his heels. The woman followed Mm to the corner, shouting to some young men to- follow and apprehend the man. The brawl in the same road distracted everyone else's attention, and the man .was away before anybody saw the importance of catching him. , Meanwhile, two other women discovered blood running under the door, and induced a neighbouring shopkeeper to enter tne stores. ■