MORE AUCKLAND ROMANCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12393, 1 July 1902, Page 6

MORE AUCKLAND ROMANCE.

RIVALLING THE GRAND HOTEL • • " HOUSEMAID. ' (Pee United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, June 30.

An extraordinary story has been told to tho police by ft 17-year-old girl, who resided with her parents in the vicinity of the city, She states that she left her home at halfpast 7 last Monday to deliver a letter, and when a qi^rterof a mile away she wis accosted by three strange men, who wore masked and .had -pistols in their hands. They ordered her to stand still, and dared her to call out or move. They made hor undress, removing all her clothing except her,boots, They Allowed her to keep her waterproof cloak and umbrella. Tho mysterious trio .were then| she 'said, about 100 yards iuvny, and one of the men picked up lier clothaa'and ordered her to walk tip into the main street. According to the girl's story, ,tho men mado the following statement:—" We luve been playing pingpong until we wero'tired, and we agreed to 1-avo some* fun with the first woman who came out in such' weather as this," Nono of Jtho men are charged by the girl with laying hands on her. She did not call out, but wont to a friend's house, and was admitted in n nudo. state, hor clothes being found in a parcel on tho verandah later on. Inquiries made by tho police show that tho girl actually went to a friend's house in t)m condition described by herself on tho evening in question, but as tho night was very wet the police comment on the fact that the clothes when ■ found on tbo .verandah were quite dry. Thero is a strong suspicion that she removed her clothes thoro beforo knocking for admittance. The story is doubted by her father and friends, although her mother affirms her belief in all her daughter tayc. : A story somewhat similar to that previonsly wired, is told in a letter to tho Star, which, if genuine, justifies belief in the truth of the' story told by' the girl No. 1. The namw, times, and localities .are different, though both affairs aro reported as having occurred last Monday night. In the caso just reported, the girl statoa she was ■ accosted by thrCo masked men, vlio compelled her to strip herself of ail her clothing, and struck her with tho butt end of their pistols becauso she screamed. They gagged her, and left her with only an umbrella, not far from her own home, which sho reached in the condition stated. Steps are being taken to verify this' story, wliicli, unlike the former, has not been reported to the police. A reporter made a diligent search for the girl Xo. 2 at the address given, which was a lane off Pitt street, but failed to discover, her. It is presumed this case has no foundation in fact.