DREADFUL OUTRAGE AT ST. CLAIR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11956, 1 February 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

DREADFUL OUTRAGE AT ST. CLAIR.

A CHILD'S LIFE IN DANGER. An outrage, the circumstances surrounding which are of a shocking character, occurred at- St. Clair late on Saturday, 26th January. A number of young children were, S3 usual, playing _ about tho Sandhills, and about 5 o'clock in the aftornoop several of theso wero accosted on the. road leading, from tho Main road along tho foot of the Sandhill? by a young man. He spoke to them, and offered some of them a shilling to go up with him on to the Sandhills. All 'the children refused, but the criminal managed to luro a little tot three and a-half years of age to go with him. The rest of the children then ran to Mr Coxon, bootmaker, at St. Clair. The mother of tho child and her family had been staying at Mr Coxon's houee, and when the children reached the house with tho intelligence the mother and Mr Coxota lost' no time in getting to the spot where the infant was last seen. Mr Coxon wont up on to the Sandhills and came ncrois i: man with tho child in his arms. The child M ils evidently hurt, and was crying bitterly. Air Coxon laid hold of the man, and demanded that he should go with him to tho police station. The mail' flatly refused, and hotly resisted when force was used. Mr Coxon, however, stuck to him, and eventually lie was got to the St: Cluir Police Station. Ilero it was found that his name was Samuel Flaherty, that lie- was 25 years of age, a labourer, single, and lived in South Dunedin. ITe was taken to the Central Police Station, and charged \l>ith a criminal offence. Mranlimn the little wirl was brought to Mr Coxon's place. Dr Gordon Macdonald, who was sent for, found oil arrival that the child was in a very dangerous condition. In fact, it was a question for a time whethor tlio little, child would survive tiio injuries sustained at tho hands of a brutal peonndrel. The man was brought before tho Police Court on the 28th, and remanded. A larue crowd gathered about the court, and the police, fearing interference with the prisoner, smuggled him away cimelly. ■