ATTACK ON A NURSE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1927, Page 22

ATTACK ON A NURSE

FIERCE STRUGGLE IN WARD. London, March 20. Great courage was shown by a 20-year-old night nurse, Miss Mildred Mercer, who was attacked by a man of the trq.mp class while she was on duty in a' Ward at the Canterbury Sanatorium this, morning. The institution is situated at an isolated spot two miles from the city. About a quarter past four the man broke into the ward and, going up to Miss Mercer, struck her with a billiard cue. Fearing that the child patients, who were seriously ill, would be awakened, she struggled desperately with the man for over 15 minutes, despite the fact that he tried to strangle her, and hit her thumb. Eventually she became so exhausted that she was forced to scream, and the man, becoming frightened, escaped through the kitchen window, leaving the billiard cue behind him. A nurse in an adjoining ward raised the alarm. Miss Bray, the matron, found the girl in a state of collapse, and she was put to bed, where she now lies suffering from severe shock, extensive bruises on the head and body, finger-marks on the throat, and a bitten thumb. The police were immediately telephoned for, and a considerable force has been searching the neighbourhood, which is well wooded, but without success. Miss Mercer gave the following description of the man: Of the tramp class, between 25 and 30 years of age, sft bin in height; broad built; several days’ growth of beard; wearing grey sports coat, and pale yellow muffler. He has probably bite marks on his hands.