Glasgow Courier. — 1864-07-21 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE GLASGOW COURIER, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 18.64.  MURDEROUS ASSAULT UPON A LADY NEAR  GLASGOW  At a late hour on the evening of Saturday last, a most brutal assault was perpetrated on the person of a young lady, at Broomieloan or Sandyholes, a piece of common lying at the back of Cessnock Nursery, Govan Road. It appears that between nine and ten o'clock, Miss Margaret Addie, a young lady moving in most respectable society, and residing at Weymouth Terrace, Paisley Road, was returning from Govan, whither she had accompanied a friend. While passing the common she was met by an Irishman, who accosted her; she passed on, but the man endeavoured to intercept her, and tried to catch hold of her, she, meanwhile, putting forth her utmost efforts to escape him. Ultimately the assailant succeeded in seizing her. She screamed as loud as she could, and endeavoured to force herself from his grasp, but she failed, and the ruffian finding that she was determined to escape, struck her on the face and knocked her to the ground, repeating the blows whenever she screamed, and telling her to hold her tongue. Miss Addie, as may be supposed, was not able to continue the struggle with her brutal assailant, who at last succeeded in dragged her into a field of corn on the lands of Heatheryhall. Here the scoundrel attempted to commit a criminal assault upon the person of his victim, who struggled fearfully to prevent the execution of his intention. Shortly afterwards, while Mr Thomas Learmonth, farmer, Middleton, and another gentleman, a friend of his from Edinburgh, were proceeding along East Loan Road, they met a woman and a boy, who told them to go down the road as quick as possible, and rescue a woman who was being abused by a man. They hurried towards the place mentioned, when their attention was attracted to the field by bearing groans. They rushed to the spot thus indicated, and found the man struggling with his prostrate victim. Mr Learmonth immediately seized the man and held him fast. While Mr Learmonth was leading him down the road he attacked that gentleman, struck at him and and kicked him, and endeavoured to make his escape. Mr Learmonth struggled manfully with the fellow, and ultimately threw him to the ground, and held him fast. till the county police made their appearance, when he was conveyed to the Police Office. He gave his name as Michael M`Glinchey, a labourer, residing at 12, Victoria Street, Govan. On being examined, his clothes and linen were found to be covered with blood. Meanwhile, the injured lady had been assisted to her residence by two gentlemen from lbroxholm, and was speedily attended by Dr Smith and Dr Frazer. The doetol s found that Miss Addie had been subjected to the most cruel treatment, and had received shocking injuries. Her face was a mass of wounds and bruises. There was a cut upon the forehead in a line with the nose, three inches in length; the bridge of her nose was fractured, and the upper lip was cut through in two places. The doctors dressed the wounds, but the unfortunate lady was so weak that they were doubtful whether or not she would survive, aed recommended that her deposition should be taken. On Sunday morning Sheriff Bell and Mr Gemmel, the Procurator-Fiscal, proceeded to the residence of Miss Addie, and took her deposition. We understand that Miss Addie, although still conscious, lies in a highly precarious condition. The woman and the boy who first saw part of the struggle, and raised the alarm which led to the prisoner's capture by Mr Learmonth, turned up yesterday, and their evidencellwill be of considerable importance. The lady still remains in a critical condition, and though it cannot be stated that she is any worse, yet it cannot be asserted that she is at all improving.