ESCAPE MADE BY INTRUDER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 119, 1 March 1949, Page 3

ESCAPE MADE BY INTRUDER

Struggle With Manager on Footpath PASSERS-BY INDIFFERENT. (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 28. While he was struggling in Moorhouse Avenue on Saturday evening with a man whom he had caught on the premises of Vita Cellars, Etd., of 131 Madras Street, the manager of the firm (Mr W. Withell) received no help from four men who walked past. He could not call for help because his lower set of false teeth had been broken, and part of it had caught in his throat. The man, who was described by Mr Withell as being young and of good build, broke away, and although the Police were quickly on the scene, he was not caught. Mr Withell’s throat was severely bruised where the man tried to strangle him, and his throat, and gums ? were lacerated. When Mr Withell went to the firm’s premises about 7.30 o’clock on Saturday he form'd a large suitcase with six bottles of wine in it on a table. He heard a noise upstairs and a man came into the room on the ground floor. When challenged by Mr Withell the man said he was just having a look round. The man threatened Mr Withell with a box, and ran out to the street, where he slipped and fell on the pavement. Mr Withell jumped on him and caught him by the hair. Mr Withell asked a passing cyclist to call the police, but the cyclist refused. Mr Withell was taking the man to the Police Station, and had just turned info Moorhouse Avenue when the man attacked him. While tlie two were struggling on the footpath a motorist crossed the road, looked at them for a moment, and then went back to his motor-car and drove away. Four other men walked past witKout stopping.