A BRUTAL OUTRAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8949, 7 June 1907, Page 2

A BRUTAL OUTRAGE.

LADIES' EARS CUT OFF. PARIS, April 7.— The latest exploit of the 'hooligans of Marseilles has struck terror into the -heaa't of every i woman- in that city. j A few nights ago a woman on her } way home was suddenly approached on the Quai dv Vieux Port by a fctrancer and asked to hand over her gold earrin,ge. She started back in. alarm, and a. minute later Ecreaanied find fell fainting tc> the pavememt. When. she was picked up by <a policeman it. was found that the lobe of her left cair liadl been cut off, and the earring with it. A lady "wearing a pair of pearl earrings was accosted by a- well-dressed man in a, quiet street .and 1 asked to give up her ca-iuings. She offered resistance' and soreaimed. In an. instant her loft ear was cut entirely off, and the thief ivaoi away with the car. A nether wora'an lostt bo«t.li eairs. Quite a number of women have be-eai similarly jobbed during the past few days. Several earns have been found, and M. GavialLer, the Marseilles juge d'instipuctdon, has had them preserved in alcohol. In oils op.r^ the assailant has beau captured, and is to> be tried before tihe assizes at Aix, when -the ear will be produced as evidence. One result of the crimes is that tlfoei women, of Marseilfes have now begun to diisoaa-d 'earrings altogether. '