TWO AUSTRALIAN LADIES ROBBED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 892, 17 September 1879, Page 2

TWO AUSTRALIAN LADIES ROBBED.

Robberies in' Naples, and indeed m Southern Italy generally, are no novelty, "but an incident that occurred a few days ago m la bella Napoli will have a special interest for Australian readers. The absence of public security is stated to be so great that visitors are warned against going to the south of Italy unless things are speedily! changed. Itjippears^that,,, two Australian ladies," who^ere^resfdirig"* m the Pension© Britannica, on tlie Corso Vittoria Emanuelo, were Walking along that frequented road, when they were suddenly attacked by two 'unknown individuals. Italian robbers do not do things by halves . and there was a remarkable want of 'gallantry for the fair sex m their mode ; of proceeding > One, of the ladies was thrown deliberately on the ground and robbed of a gold watch set m brilliants, valued, at, £32, whilst from the other was a watch and chain worth £20. Fortunately.two guards m plain i clothes who were making . their rounds, were at .hand, and,, at once, gave chase. The robbers made off with all speed, and descending from the, heights on to the Chiaja, they jumped into a vehicle on finding the guards -were after them. The guards get another conveyance, and 'then commenced an excitingV chase, which was ended by the ministers of the law overtaking the offenders. The moro vahiable watch was found on the person of one of them, whilst the other watch had been thrown into a garden during the chase, and was also recovered. One of the robbers was found to be armed with a revolver, of which, happily, he made no use. It is to be hoped that both criminals wills meet with their deserts ; but this is very r problematic m Italy, particularly where the parties aggrieved are foreigners. It must indeed be a pleasant state of things when we are told that no gentleman can walk about Naples with his coat un-j buttoned|without imminent risk of losing hiis watch or chain, or a lady without putting her hands over her ears to prevent her earrings being snatched at. For ladies to have their ears lacerated m this manner is, the "Timtf'. correspondent says, no uncommon occurrence. ••.--. „ ; i . . =..