BRUTAL ATTACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23021, 26 April 1938, Page 10

BRUTAL ATTACK

AGED WIDOW VICTIM ASSAULTED BY YOUTH DEMAND MADE FOR MONEY ESCAPE OF ASSAILANT 5 Almost collapsing, Mrs. Helen Sim, a widow, aged 82. staggered into tho home of her son, Mr. Alexander C. Sim, at Karaka, shortly after mid-day yesterday, and said she had been assaulted by a young man who walked into her house and demanded money from her. When she refused, she told the police, he struck here several times in the face with his fist. Mrs. Sim lives in the daytime in a small cottage opposite the Karaka south school, about four miles from Drury and on the main Auckland-Puke-kolie road. Since the death oi her husband some years ago she has slept at her son's house, and each morning it was her practice to walk about a quarter of a mile across the paddocks which separate the two houses and spend the day at her home. Knocked to Floor When Detective-Sergeant Ma Hood, Detective Harris and Constable Power went to Karaka yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Sim told them that she was sitting in her kitchen when a young man on a motor-cycle drew up. He walked into the kitchen and began to talk to her. After a few minutes, she sa'id, he demanded money. •

She told him she would not give him any money. He clenched his list and struck her in the face, knocking her to the floor. She managed io get on to her feet, and when he struck her again she went into another room. He followed her. she'said, and after some of her clothing was torn she returned to the kitchen and picked up a hammer, with which she tried to hit him. Struck with Hammer Mrs. Sim said he then snatched the hammer from her and struck her in the back. The blow felled her to the floor, and as she again rose he hurried from the cottage, remounted his motorcycle and rode away. She was consider-,-ably dazed with the shock of heresy perience, and it4ook some time for rait to walk across the paddocks to tell KF son what liad happened.

The Papakura and Pukekohe police were advised, and constables from there joined forces with the detectives from Auckland and a thorough search was made of the locality. At a late hour the assailant had not been traced. Mrs. Sim received medical attention. She is suffering from shock.