BRUTAL ASSAULT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 2

BRUTAL ASSAULT

TENNIS PLAYER ATTACKED. CANTERBURY MAN IN AUCKLAND (Per Press AUCKLAND, December 27. A brutal assault by four men in a motor-car upon two visitors to Auckland, near the entrance to Ellerslie racecourse in the early hours of this morning, was responsible lor the default of A. W. Smithson, of Canterbury, in the Men's Singles of the New Zealand lawn tennis championship meeting to-day. He was one of the victims of the'assault, and is suffering from shock and bruises. K. Welsh, of Hamilton, received a bad cut on the head and is also suffering from shock. Mr Smithson and Mr Welsh were walking home when a motor-car pulled up near them. The car contained four men, who appeared to be under the in- \ fluence of liquor. One man asked the visitors to jump in and have a drink. They refused, however. Thereupon the men in the car jumped out and began to attack them wildly. Messrs Smithson and Welsh managed to get free and ran through the entrance to the racecourse toward the house of Mr A. C. Hill, racecourse manager. Mr Welsh was apparently overtaken and was struck by one of the assailants. When falling ho struck his head on the kerbing. At this stage the assailants evidently realised that they had gome too far, I a« they made off. The visitors managed to reach Mr Hill's house, and Mr Hill rendered first aid. Later the victims of the assault were able to proceed home.