ANZAC PARADE CASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 249, 20 October 1937, Page 6

ANZAC PARADE CASE

MRS. THOMPSON INTERVIEWED “A MAN FOLLOWED ME OVER THE BRIDGE” BLOW STRUCK FROM BEHIND Mrs Una Thompson, who was assaulted on Anzac Parade early on the morning of October 3, had sufficiently recovered yesterday to be interviewed. In a statement to a “Chronicle” reporter she recounted her movements before she was struck from behind and lost consciousness. A young man followed her over the Dublin Street Bridge, she stated. She did not see him until she was actually on the bridge. “I kept looking back, as I was expecting my husband to come from the Savage Club,” Mrs Thompson said, “and perhaps the man following me thought I was curious. I was expecting him to speak to me as he got so close when I was crossing over the road, but he didn’t. I would recognise him again if I saw him, and I will have a good try to anyway. It is pretty hard when you can’t go out at night.”

Mrs Thompson said that she passed other people on the bridge, two young men, in particular, who were going in the opposite direction—from Wanganui East towards the city. They must have seen the man who was following her, she declared. Questioned further, Mrs Thompson said that she did not see the man following her after she'-crossed the foot' path to the bowser station, but she still heard footsteps. “I only remember one blow and then sagging into his arms,” she declared. “I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up here.” Mrs Thompson stated that her husband intended to meet her at Harrison Street. What actually transpired was that t/ie Savage Club “korero,” the last of the season, continued for a longer period than usual, and Mr Thompson, who spent the whole evening there with two members of the club, who have been seen by the “Chornicle,” remained until after 12.35 a.m. As he did not arrive at the appointed time, Mrs Thompson decided to walk home herself, leaving Harrison Street fully an hour before her husband left his friends--between 11.37 and 11.45 p.m. Her friends offered ner company, but as there was a young baby in the house she refused and walked quickly along the street carrying her golf clubs. It is fairly definite that she was assaulted some 12 to 15 minutes after leaving Harrison Street—round about midnight. When interviewed yesterday Mrs Thompson was in one of the main wards, screened off. She was quite cheerful, but still bore tangible evidence of having been struck several times. A wound on her left hand has practically healed, but the front portion of her head and right eye were still very much under treatment. She declared she was mending fast and the probability is that when she is fit and well again she will be able to assist the police still further.