THE SPRINGFIELD CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 209, 3 September 1900, Page 5

THE SPRINGFIELD CASE.

TWO MEN ASSAULTED AND j ROBBED. I

' A most brutal assault and robbery took place last Wednesday afternoon, at the cutting leading into the Kowal River, a couple of miles from Springfield, says the Christchurch "Press" of Thursday. From reliable sources and eye-witnesses I glean that a party of men had the previous week taken- a holiday from their work on the Midland railway, and gone to the races in Christchurch. Early in the afternoon they left Springfield on a waggon for Patterson's Creek, and about a couple of hours afterwards a report reached Spring-field that two men had been killed, and were lying on the side of the road on the banks of the Kowai. Mr J. Hoglund at once jumped across his.horse, and started out for the scene of the supposed murder, and Mr W. Cloudesley got a trap and horses ready, and telegraphed to Dr. Inglis, at Darfield, "Serious accident, come at once."

Mr Hoglund, on reaching the scene, saw S. or C. Stewart lying insensible on the road, with nothing but his boots and pants on, and covered witb. dirt and bruises from his hips upwards, the wounds including an ugly cut just above the right temple, this wound- clearly having been made by a kick from a nailed boot. A little man, known as "Ted," who was also there, had just regained consciousness. Both men were immediately taken back to Springfield. Stewart was put into a warm bath, and then into bed, and all that could be done to restore consciousness was done. Dr. IngWg arrived early in the evening, and after dressing the man's wounds, and giving instructions for the night, left. Stewart regained consciousness early m the morning, hurl. subsequently it,Mi found that he had been robbed tif about £14, and the man "Ted" had been robbecj p| 16/. _7.-7" The fracas may have started in a squabble and a challenge to fight, but Stewart was so badly mauled and knocked about that there is a strong suspicion that robbing was intended from the first. His clothes had beea literally torn off his back, and from the state in which he was found it was evident that he had made a game struggle against his antagonist.. Information was given to the.police in Christchurch on Saturday night, and two men have since been arrested. A third is still wanted. It might be added that the affray occurred partially in view of a resident, whose daughter saw Stewart being assaulted, and who at once raised analarm for assistance.

At the Police Court two men, Thomas Grogan and Roderick McIsaac.were charged with having robbed .William Stewart, near Springfield, of £14. They were also charged with having similarly treated Edward Robinson and robbed him of 16/. Sergeant Lyons asked for a remand until September 4th. The Bench granted this. Grogan applied for bail, which was granted, himself in £50,' and two sureties in '£50 each. Mclsaac did not aslc for bail.