SEX CRIME WAVE IN MELBOURNE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 116, 20 May 1942, Page 5

SEX CRIME WAVE IN MELBOURNE

THREE WOMEN VICTIMS (Recd. 11.15 p.m.) Melbourne. May 19. The sex crime wave sweeping this city culminated to-day in the finding of a body of a semi-nude young woman secreted in an trench in Royal Park, North Melbourne. The victim had been strangled and probably outraged. The bodies of two other women, practically stripped of clothing, were found on May 3 and 9 in other parts of the city. They had been done to death in similar circumstances. The crimes have created one of the most baffling problems for the police and have become a matter for consternation among citizens. The latest victim was identified as Gladys Hosking, 29 years of age, who was secretary of the chemistry department, Melbourne University. She was apparently attacked when going home last, night in inky darkness in the vicinity of a military camp, and was dragged into the park, where the police discovered ample evidence of the brave struggle put up by the girl. Her body was discovered early this morning by a soldier. Her umbrella, hat, handbag, jacket and overcoat were scattered about, but nobody heard cries, although a row of apartment houses is directly opposite the scene. The circumstances of the other two murders are: On May 3 the hallnaked body of Mrs. Ivy McLeod, aged 33, of East Melbourne, was discovered in a doorway in Victoria Avenue, Albert Park. She was found by a hotel porter who was on the way to work in the early morning. Death was due to a fracture of the skull. The partly-naked body of Mrs. Pauline Thompson, aged 32, wife of a police constable, ot Bendigo, was found on steps leading to an apartment house in Spring Street, Melbourne, on May 9. She had been strangled. In these two cases robbery appeared to be the motive, as the contents of the handbags in each instance was stolen and the bags were found elsewhere.