A FARMER-ASSAULTED AND ROBBED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 172, 23 July 1898, Page 5

A FARMER-ASSAULTED AND ROBBED.

TWO AEKESTS MADE

An extraordinary story of alleged assault and robbery has been reported

to the police. . ' Moses B. Koutley, an elderly farmer from Pukekohe, states that he was in town on Thursday night and enn-ao-ed a cab at the foot of Queenstreet to drive him to the Market Hotel. Instead of driving there, however, the cabby took him along Cus-toms-street East to a vacant allotment past the Britomart Hotel, under the cliff at the foot of Princes-street and pulling- up there called out to his fare 'This Is the Market Hotel; get out, Eoutley refused, at first, as he was obviously not at any hotel. But another man meanwhile appeared upon the scene, and the two of them pulled Eoutley out of the cab. One man, he states, struck him a heavy blow on the left ear with a club or stick, knocking him unconscious for a few seconds The violence of the blow may be'judged from the fact that the unfortunate man's ear was split from the tip to the centre, so that five or six stitches had afterwards to be put in by a medical man. When he recovered consciousness Koutley says he found one man taking his watch and the other going through his pockets, while he was kicked severely about the legs and body. _ Besides the watch, 15/ in money, a cigarholder and a knife were taken from him, after which the second man lumped into the cab and the driver resumed his seat on the box and drove picked himself up ate they had' gone and began to make his way back to town. Near the Britomart Hotel he met a constable to whom he reported, the robbery. The policeman took him to the station and Subsequently Dr. King was calledUn and attended to his injuries, tion to the cut in his ear Eoutley had bruises all over his body as the result of the attack. Enquiries were Tmrlp yesterday into his story by yeTectfve 3 BaW and Acting-Detective Millar with the result that last night at 930 they arrested a young man named Charles Henry. Cox. When lie *mv the detectives m Queen»-streei» Cox it is alleged, ran off, but he was pursued and taught. Half an hour later another young- man, ™f™™ remanded till next Friday. Each man S allpwed bail in two sureties of £100 each.