attacked on way home

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 1

attacked on way home

Screams Bring Neighbours’ Aid

MAN ESCAPES IN DARKNESS

OAVAGELY attacked by an unknown man in St. Mary's U Road, Ponsonby, early this morning, a young business girl was struck on the head before her assailant made off. Screams by the victim and her sister aroused the whole neighbourhood. A hue and cry was immediately raised and although the man was sighted several times, he managed to escape. Detectives were making inquiries this morning.

Doreen Wilson, of Dunedin Street, Ponsonby, was the victim of the astault. She was thrown to the ground by the attacker and received a blow on the head from what the doctor who attended her considers to have been a blunt Instrument. Blood was streaming down her face and neck when rescuers arrived. By this time, Miss Wilson had collapsed. Medical attention was immediately sought. Fortunately, the assailant had not time to wound Miss Wilson more seriously, and her injuries were confined to a painful head wound and severe shock. With her younger sister, Jean, aged 17, Doreen Wilson was returning to her home after having attended a dance in the Musical Box dance hall, Pitt Street. The girls describe their assailant as a fairly young man of probably 26 to 28 years of age. He was not wearing a hat and had on a dark grey or a black tweed coat. The man was not more than medium build and apparently was of fair complexion with light-coloured hair. CALLING FOR HELP

At 12.30 a.m., the girls were walking down St. Mary’s Road. Near St. Francis de Sale Street, ;they noticed for the first time a man walking on the opposite side of the road. He crossed over and began to pursue the girls. They ran toward their home, but the man overtook Doreen and threw her on to the ground. She screamed for assistance and Jean Wilson ran further down St. Mary's Road, calling for help. Neighbours immediately left their homes to find the attacker. In her home a short distance up Dunedin Street from St. Mary's Road Mrs. C. G. Wilson was waiting for her daughters to return from the dance. She heard their screams and immediately ran to the front of her house for assistance. To The Sun this morning Mrs. Wilson said that her son, Frank, and Mr. Ernest Matthews, of Dunedin Street, ran in pursuit of the man. Directed by a small boy, they went into a back yard in St. Mary’s Road, but the resident told them that the man had gone into a neighbouring property. Prolonged searching by many people could reveal no further trace of the man. TAXI’S HEADLIGHTS In the meantime, a driver for Black

and White taxis, stationed near Three Lamps Post Office at the head of St. Mary's Road, hearing the girls’ screams, had gone to their assistance. He found Doreen Wilson in a state of collapse and immediately brought Dr. H. F. Holmden, of Jervois Road, to the scene. The driver had noticed the girls going down the road, Mrs. Wilson said. After he had. heard them screaming, he saw a man come running up the road and immediately flashed the taxi’s lights on to him. The driver believes that he could identify the man he saw. He did not go in pursuit of the man, as, at the moment, he did not connect him with the screaming down the road. “I knew that my girls were screaming immediately,” Mrs. Wilson said. “It was a terrible shock. They both might have been killed. If all the neighbours had not come, out, Doreen must have been badly hurt.” Doreen Wilson was greatly recovered this morning and was able to tell the story of the attack. “I have never seen the man before in my life,” she said. ‘lt was light enough at the time to get a fairly accurate impression of his features.’” DID NOT SPEAK “When we saw him coming after us, we increased our pace, but he kept near us. Soon, we were running. Then, without a word—the man did not speak at any stage—he caught me from the back and threw me on the ground. My clothing was ripped, but I fought him as best as I could.” ..“If I had not kept my wits about me, he might have attacked Jean, but she had time to get down the street and call for help. I do not know it he hit me on the head before I was thrown to the ground or not. It was terrible, and I can’t give any reason for such an attack." Jean Wilson was not sure if she had seen the assailant before or not. “I had an umbrella with me,” she said “but I was so excited that I forgot to hit the man with it.” Mrs. Wilson considers it remarkable that the man was able to escape when the whole neighbourhood was roused. The girl’s screaming, Mrs. Wilson said, was actually heard in Shelly Beach Road. The police are continuing their inquiries in the district.