ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21250, 2 August 1932, Page 8

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

WOMAN ATTACKED IN STREET BAG CONTAINING £3O TAKEN TWO MEN DRIVE OFF IN CAR r ß y TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHKISTCHtTBCH, Monday Two men attacked Miss E Harbidge manageress for Messrs. E. Adams and Company, pastrycooks, on nda.yevemng in Edward Avenue, held her by the throat to prevent her from screaming and robbed her of about £3O which was in her handbag. . _ Apparently, the fact that Miss Harbidge frequently carried home with her the takings from the shop was known to her assailants, and it seems certain that she was shadowed from the shop to within a few paces of her home. Miss Harbidge. who was carrying the money in a small bag, followed her usual custom of travelling home by tramcar. She left the shop about 10 o'clock and alighted from the trarn at Edward Avenue. Only one other person left the tram at this stop, a man who walked behind her at a short distance and who did not appear to be in any hurry to pass her. Miss Harbidge advanced toward Fitzgerald Street corner, which is close to her home, but, before reaching the corner, she noticed a motor-car standing by the kerb. The car lights were out, and Miss Ilarbridge's attention was attracted to it by the fact that the engine was running. At that moment a man jumped from the shadow of a • garage and caught her by the throat. Her mouth was held and she could not scream. She struggled to free herself, but was then attacked by another man, who grabbed her bag with the money. The men then got into the waiting car, which was quickly driven out of sight. The lights were not switched on.