VICIOUS ASSAULT.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 7 August 1937, Page 3

VICIOUS ASSAULT.

WOMAN SET UPON. Many Blows Struck. BY UNKNOWN MAN. SHOPPING BAG SNATCHED AWAY. [By Telegraph. —.fress Association] AUCKLAND, Aug. 7. A vicious assault was made upon a woman who was returning to her home in Grey Street, Onehunga, about 1] o'clock last night, when she was knocked down and severely injured about the face by a man who robbed her of her shopping bag. The woman had just alighted from a tram-car in Queen Street, Onehunga, and after passing the street light at the corner of Spring Street, she heard footsteps behind her. Before she had time to become alarmed she was either punched or pushed in the back and thrown to the ground. She remonstrated with the man and he mumbled what appeared to be an apology, and commenced to assist her to her feet.

Instead of assisting Tier, however, he struck her blows oft the face, inflicting a cut and bruises. A heavy blow on the jaw broke her dentures and caused a cut on the inside of the mouth, which later required two stitches.

The woman maintained" consciousness, however, and, holding tightly to her handbag and shopping bag, she screamed for help. There was a high wind blowing at the time, and evidently this prevented her cries from being heard by nearby residents. The assailant eventually managed to grasp the shopping bag and made off. Still grasping her handbag, which contained her money and valuables, the woman was able to stagger to her home some 500 yards away, with blood streaming from the cut on her face. The Onehunga police searched the district, but no arrest was made, and tHey are still pursuing inquiries.