A "STICKING-UP CASE."

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5, 7 January 1895, Page 3

A "STICKING-UP CASE."

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY AT

HOPETO UN-STREET.

I The offence of assault and robbery ab night appears to be on the increase in Auckland. Another case has come to light, the victim being Mr Samuel Wing, bookkeeper at Messrs Hellaby's establishment, Shortlandstreet, and who lives at Mackelvie-sbreeb, Surrey Hills. Ib appears thab Mr Wing lefb Messrs Hellaby's shop shorbly after 9 o'clock on Saturday night, and after walking about Queen-street, he proceeded home via Karangahape Road. On reaching the butcher's shop at bhe corner of Karangahape Road and Howe-street, be took a shorb cut known bo pedestrians, by walking across an open space of land which leads to Hopetounstreeb (at the back of the reservoir) and Ponsonby Road. When Mr Wing got as far as the fence ab the reservoir enclosure, he states thab he stopped for a minute or two, when he noticed two men pass. While he stood, one of the men went towards the fence, while the second Btopped in the middle of the road a few yard, from his mate. Mr Wing says he then started walking again, and when passing bhe man in bbc middle of bhe road, he saw a flash and heard a slighb reporb as if from a pistol that the man tired. Mr Wing exclaimed, " What's the game ?" whereupon the man in the middle of the road turned round and hit him with some weapon on the head which knocked bim down. Mr Wing sprang up and struck one of the men with an umbrella which he carried, bub bhe handle broke. Mr Wing then abates he was struck on the head three or four times, and knocked down and stunned. After he had lain on the ground for a few minutes he came to. His assailants were then moving away, and he says he overheard them say, ""You've nob half searched him."

Subsequent-y, Mr Wing found that one sovereign and six shillings in silver had been taken from his trousers pocket bub the thieves had lefb several single nobes in his upper vesb pocket, and also a watch. His coab, vesb, and shirb were covered wibh blood. This wa3 due to a cub about three inches long on Mr Wing's head, and also to a bad cut he sustained bn bhe lefb ear. On bhe streeb where the assault and robbery took place could be seen yesterday a quantity of blood and marks where a severe sbrugglo had baken place.

Mr Wing procured medical advice, and was able bo be ab business bo-day wibh his head bandaged.