WOMAN ROBBED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25661, 9 October 1944, Page 4

WOMAN ROBBED

BOUND AND GAGGED INTRUDER’S MURDER THREAT Bound to a chair and gagged and threatened with murder, Mrs P. J. Sweetapple, of Roslyn road, Napier, was robbed of £ 14 by an unknown man shortly after 2 o’clock on Friday afternoon. Mrs Sweetapple is suffering from facial scratches, injuries to her wrists, and shock. The police are searching for the assailant, who is described as a young man of medium build. Mrs Sweetapple was resting after lunch when she heard someone knock, first at the back door and then at the front. She ignored the knockings, but when she heard someone pulling out drawers inside the house shp. went to the room, where she asked the intruder what he was doing. The man said he wanted money and if she screamed he would murder her. He then rushed her, tied her wrists with his own tie and her legs with a pair of pyjamas belonging to Mr Sweetapple. The assailant had • secured two watches and a number of diamond rings, and Mrs Sweetapple endeavoured to barter with him, offering him for the jewellery £l4 which she had in a bag. At one stage he was going to take both the money and the jewellery. but he eventually threw down the iatter. Then the man gagged Mrs Sweetapple and again threatened to murder her if she screamed. Mrs Sweetapple was able to release her bonds and was in the act of telephoning the police when a neighbour, Mrs I. L. Prime, arrived.