ATTACKED IN THE NIGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3429, 22 January 1912, Page 5

ATTACKED IN THE NIGHT.

DASTARDLY OUTRAGE ON WOMAN. MAN FORCES WAY INTO POSTMISTRESS 5 ROOM. IN LONELY COUNTRY OFFICE. [per press association.! KIMBOLTON, Jan. 20. . A dastardly outrage was committed at the post office at Kiwitea, 12 miles from Feilding, at an early hour yesterday morning. About 1 o'clock Mrs lyernahan, postmistress, who was sleeping with ner daughter, 14 years old, was awakened by a man, who had opened her window. The man demanded the keys of the safe, which the postmistress refused. She screamed, and the little girl ran across the road and aroused the neighbors. In the meantime the man dragged Mrs. Kernahan through the window, and brutally assaulted her with a heavy piece, of wood or an iron bar, but by the time help had arrived the man had completely disappeared. The woman was found lying unconscious and bleeding. She was taken to Feilding for medical examination, which showed that her arm was broken, apparently in shielding her head. .Her head was much bruised, and the victim is now in a private hospital seriously, though not dangerously, illSergeant Bowden and Detective Quirke quickly proceeded to Kiwitea, but though the whole district has been scoured, no trace has been found of the man- One or two clues were followed up. but without result. The affair is. a. shock to the district, as the postmistress, who is a. widow, is very popular.