THE CHRISTCHURCH ASSAULT CASE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5490, 9 December 1884, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH ASSAULT CASE.

Oil Friday at the Christchurch Resident Magistrate'a Court, Wm. Thos. AustinTyrell, Win. Peacock, aud Johu Arthur Cotton were charged with felonious assault. Constable Dillon deposed that while on his beatiu Allenstreet, off Manchester' street, at about 1 a.m. on December 2nd, he heard a woman screaming loudly, and he ran to the South Belt ; nearly opposite the passenger station he met the three prisoners running out on to the footpath; he seized Tyrell and Cotton, a struggle ensued, and Cotton got away. The third man also escaped towards the Terminus Hotel. He took Tyrell into the vacant section which adjoins Mr Bird's house, and found a woman behind the fence. She was standing up, cryiug j her hair was dishevelled and her dreas disarranged. She cried out, " Where are the police?" She said she had been knocked down after being sboved in off the footpath by three yonng men ; that they put their hands on her mouih, and each m turn committed a capital offeuce on her while the others held her down. Witness aaked if the man he held (Tyrell) was one of them. She said he was. She then fell down as if fainting. He told her to follow him to the police station, where he at once took Tyrell. The ground was afterwards searched, and there were signs of much struggling. Detective O'Connor stated that he arrested Cotton and Peacock on the present charge. They said "all right." A minute or two after Peacock said, " This looks bad for me ; my father dead, and my mother away, and my sister going bad. " The prosecutrix :1 am a married woman. My husband is, I believe, in Geelong. He is a tanner. He has been away two years, i have reaided eince in Wellington and Dunedin. I have been hid up nearly ever since with the effects of paralysis. I was in the hospital twice— eight months, and again many months. I left it on 26th November. I left on my own accord. On the evening of let Decembe •• I went to Mrs Thompson's to tea. She lives iv Gordon Street, in Ferry Koad. I stayed there a considerable time — somo hours. I don't know what hour I left. I lett alone, and intended to go back to my lodgings. I did not go into any house after leaving lhompson's. 1 lost my way near the Caversham, and on account of my infirmity I had to go very slowly. I arrived near the railway station, on the opposite side of the belt. I was quite sober, though I had had one glass of beer with Mrs Thompson. When I was on the footpath, going west, some men came up behind me. Two of them got hold of me, and took me by the shoulders off the path behind some bushes not far away. They threw me down. (Here she described the assa Its.) I began screaming. One of them put his fingers into my mouth, and his other hand over it. 1 protected myself as well as I could, but must have got partially unconBcious. I swear the three assaulted me in turn, the others holding me. After this had been going on for some time, they Ecemed to bb disturbs, and all ran away in a miuute. I heard no one coming up. When the constable brought Tyrell to me, I then recognised him as one of those whe had assaulted me. I could not, however, say now which of the three at the bar is the one. [ Che proscutrix seemed very infirm. Being paralysed on one side, she drags ono leg in walking. She, moreover, appears to be partially imbecile.] Mrs Annie Bird deposed to baying seen some part of the offences, which was committed under her bedroom window. Further corrobrative evidence was given, and the accused were committed for trial, bail being refused.— N. Z. Times.