WOMAN'S ORDEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23302, 22 March 1939, Page 12

WOMAN'S ORDEAL

STRUCK WITH BOTTLE MAN ENTERS KITCHEN VICTIM UNCONSCIOUS POLICE MAKE ARREST A young married woman was allegedly the victim of a savage assault by a man in her kitchen early yesterday afternoon in Church Street, Ponsonby, less than 100 yards from the busy thoroughfare of Ponsonby Road.

She told the police that the man entered the kitchen, and, while she was examining a cake in the oven, he struck her on the head with a bottle and then gripped her by the throat until she became unconscious. When she recovered she staggered out of the house and collapsed over the gate. Her dishevelled state attracted the attention of a passer by, who summoned the police and a doctor.

Husband's Statement The woman was stiU too dazed last night to be interviewed, but her husband gave an account of what she previously had said occurred. About two o'clock she was baking some cakes in the kitchen when the door was opened and a man stepped into the room. "He was practically unknown to us," the husband said. "Some time ago he came to the house with another mlftP and was asked to come inside with him for a few minutes. When he opened the door and stepped into the kitchen to-day he made no excuse for doing so, and he did not ask whether my wife would buy anything.

Blow on the Head "My wife told the police that he stayed there about five minutes. He asked her about, the radio in the next room, and spoke about the races. She" said she paid very little attention to him. and wondered what he wanted. While her back was turned to the stove, he must have gone through to the small room where we have our meals, taken a large bottle of sauce and brought it into the kitchen. "The next thing my wife knew was a terrific blow on the side of the head and a sound like smashing glass.TTheree e was glass and sauce on the floor of the" kitchen when I came home. She remembers falling on to the floor, and the man's fingers clutching at her throat. Then everything went bliick," Docto; Summoned Apparently the woman was not unconscious long, because the Ponsonby police received a telephone message at 2.10 p.m. from a mac to say lie had found a woman, in obvious distress, leaning over the front gate, and.she appeared to have been assaulted. He also telephoned Dr. W. H. Pettib, who immediately answered the call. A woman passer-by told a constable that the woman's head was covored in blood when she first saw her, and that her clothing, some scratches and finger marks on her neck indicated she had been attacked. Suffering from Shock

Although not seriously hurt about .the head, the victim of the assiault is suffering a. good deal from shook, and she may , have to remain in bed for a day or two. ■ t ' v r .'1

Detective Lane made inquiries and j a suspect was subsequently arrested. He will appear in the Police Court this morning. • |