The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1887-09-03 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DANGERS OF THE RAIL. OUTRAGE ON A YOUNG LADY.  On Saturday night a young lady, aged 25, named Catherine Scragg, schoolmistress at the Shrewsbury Board Schools, who was travelling to Shrewsbury by the London and North-Western express arriving at eight o'clock, was, it is stated, the victim of a brutal outrage and murderous assault midway between Wellington and Shrewebsry. It appears that just afEer leaving Wellington a man, whose name is kncwo, living at Tipton, Staffordshire, who was the only other person in the compartment, attempted to assault her, and she was only rescued by the timely intervention of a gentleman in an adjoining compartment. The following statement has been made by the lady to Detective Morris, of Shrewbury :"They took our tickets at Wellington, and just as the train was starting for Shrewsbury I observed a man jump into the carriage where I sat, and I thought of jumping out, but there was not time. I took up my book to read, and after going a short distance the man asked me if the train stopped before it reached Shrewsbury. I said "No.' He replied that he was going to Shrewsbury to see his wife, but I made no answer. He then got up, came to the end of the carriage where I sat, and put his arm around my neck. I threatened to scream, and then he took hold of me and attempted to assault me. I fought hard with him and he struck me violently with his fist. I then made for the door and got on to the footboard with the intention of jumping out. But when the door shut it shut on my arm. A gentleman in the next compartment looked out of the window and saw my position, and, having led me along the footboard, pulled me into his compartment through the window. The man followed, but the gentleman who had aEsisted me had a sword-stick with him. He drew out the sword and threatened to run it through the man if he came near, and that was the last I saw of him."  On the train reaching Shrewsbury the porters wore immediately despatched along the line in search of the offender. He was found lying on the rails in an unconscious state, with his face terribly cut and much bruised about the body. He was taken to Shrewsbury Infirmary, and so also was Miss Scragg, who was suffering from severe shook to the system, in addition to being greatly bruised about the face and arms. The man did not regain consciousness until Sunday morning, and some days, it was expected, would elapse before he would be able to appear before the magistrates, He was informed by Detective Morris that he would be charged with the assault, to which he made no reply.  The Shrewsbury police have found another im• portanl. niece of evidence in regard to this outrage, which took place between Wellington and Shrewsbury on Saturday night—namely, a hat of Miss Scragg. It was disco.ered lying beside the line, about five miles from Shrewsbury. Miss Scragg states that when she got out of the carriage the man Grice first closed the d9or upon her, and she rode for some distance on the step, Afterwards he opened the door, and then she shifted along to the carriage in which Mr. Graham was riding, and got in through the window, when Grice disappeared. Miss Scragg still lies in a prostrate condition, but in gradually recovering. It has been ascertained that her alleged assailant, Grice has been for some time employed at the Castle Iron Works, Wellington. He is a stout, burly fellow, and it is thought by some tc be scarcely credible that any young lady could wrestle with so powerful an opponent for 15 minutes and iliti. mately get free. He was seen to enter the train just as it was starting from Wellington, and appears to have watched his opportunity for entering the compartment wherein Miss Scragg 'sat alone. This given rise to the opinion that the assault was premeditated. Tie compartment has been inspected by the authorities, who report that the cushions, doors, and windows were besmeared with blood; parcels were scattered about the floor, and there were other signs of a terrible struggle. Grice lies in a critical condition in the Shrewsbury Infirmary, suffering from severe injuries received in his jumping from the train, and is only conscious at intervals.