This may have nothing to do with anything. But it is curious that it is not so very long before and it is definitely in a location close to where Elsie's body was discovered. I am not sure exactly where the tollhouse was yet.
Serious assault on young ladies near Bath.
On Wednesday afternoon a young lady was dastardly assaulted in the neighbourhood of the Warminster road, Bath. It appears that Miss White, living at 1, Ayrlington villas, Pulteney road, and another young lady went out for a walk, and went to the wood skirting the Warminster road, near where the toll-house stood, to gather beech nuts.
They were so employed when a young man suddenly sprang upon Miss White, giving her a violent blow over the eye which knocked her to the ground and inflicted a severe wound. The young ladies were naturally very greatly alarmed, and screamed loudly, whereupon the assailant made off up the hill towards Hampton down.
Miss White and her companion then ran down the road, the former, in her fright, leaving behind her hat and umbrella; she was also covered with mud. A trap belonging to Messrs Mundy, ironmongers, Stall street, happened to be passing, and the young ladies asked for the protection of the driver, explaining how wantonly they had been assaulted. He sent the boy who accompanied him to recover the hat and umbrella, and drove the ladies to the bottom of St George's hill, where a lady took them into her house. Having rested there for a while they were driven home in Messrs Mundy's conveyance.
They state that their assailant was a young man of respectable appearance, about 20 years of age, of small stature and light complexion; he wore light clothes and a red tie; they are of opinion that they could easily identify him. Miss White says that when he struck her he appeared to have in his hand a leather belt.
Messrs Mundy's driver said that later in the evening the boy stated that, as the young ladies were being driven home, he saw a young man answering the description given walking behind them on the road, and that when he noticed the lad watching him he pulled his hat over his eyes.
Both the city and county police have been informed of the occurrence, and it is to be hoped that the offender will be discovered and receive well-merited punishment.
Gloucestershire Echo, 23rd November 1888.
No comments:
Post a Comment