Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1882-12-30 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MURDEROUS OUTRAGE ON THE RAILWAY. An affair of a most shocking kind happened on the North-Eastern Railway between South Shields and Jarrow on Wednesday morning. It appears that Mrs Atkinson, carrying on business as a fruiterer in Agnesfdreet, South Shields, left the Railway Station at that place by the 6-45 a.m. train for Newcastle. She had with her about £5O in money, which she had counted and got ready the night before, to pay for goods which she had purchased in Newcastle for the: Christmas market. On the arrival of the train at Jarrow, the guard in passing along the platform observed the off-side door of a compartment open, and entering the door near the platform, he gaped Mrs Atkinson lying on the door. lift. was in an unconscious eondition, the carriage was in a most disorderly state, a few pieces of silver were ing strewn about, and it was evident at a 1L same that a most shocking assault and robbery been committed. Further investigation showed that, Mrs Atkiuson's pocket had been 'violently torn from her dress, and when that lady was taken from the carriage to the station a large bruise was found on her forehead, her face was disfigured, and it was subsequently discovered that her arms were beaten black and blue. The unconscious passenger was kept at the station for sonic time, and, still remaining insensible, she was afterwards conveyed by train to her home. She continued unconscious all the day, and at a late hour last night was in the eTtine state. It is feared by the medical gentleman who was called in that she is suffersag front concussion of the brain, and if this proves correct the consequences may turn out to be fatal. The South Shields detectives were all day yesterday engaged in investigating the case, but up to last, night were unable to obtain any clue as to the perpetrators of the crime. The outrage is supposed to have occurred in the tunnel a short distance away from Tyne Dock, and situate between that place and Jarrow. This opinion is entertained from the circumAimee that during the day the pocket torn from Mrs Atkinson's dress, with her railway ticket, was found in the tunnel. Further testimony is: riven by amen who was a passenger in the same ;rain as that with which Mrs Atkinson travelled in the morning. Re states that - previous to the train starting he saw Mrs Atkiuson on the platform at South Shields. She looked into the compartment where he was, and then entered the mule carriage, bat two compartments away from where he was seated. The compartment she entered was nearest the guard's van, and was separated from his by a compartment and s, close partition. All went well up to High Shields station and Tyne Dock until the train entered the tunuel, and then, he states, he heard a severe scuffle, and the sound of money dropping on the carriage floor. Somewhat alarmed by this, he jumped up hastily, and looked over into the next compartment, but finding it empty resumed his seat. He thought no more of the matter until Mrs Atkinson was found at Jarrow station in the condition and manner described. It is believed from the testimony mentioned that the assault and robbery were committed during the scuffle heard by this man, and thaubc thief or thieves, taking advantage of the Maness of the morning, had jumped from the train at the Jarrow end of the tunnel, and so made good their escape. Two or three other circumstances, it seems,would favour this plan, as the tram at the part named isgenerally slowed down to ascend the hill, while the embankment at the side in such weather as this is generally in a soft state, and would make a jump from a train a matter of no great risk. If the robbery was committed in the tunnel, however, it must have been very promptly effected, as the tunnel extends for only a short distance, and the train passes through Ina short time. The guard of the tram, it may be stated, heard nothing unusual between South Shields and Jarrow, and as no one was seen at any of the stations to enter the compartment with the injured lady, the authorities are positively unable to obtain a clue until Mrs Atkinson re-, covers and is able to give an account of the affair. The nature of the assault created, as may .be supposed, a painful sensation in the district.