BLUDGEONED BY THIEVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 229, 24 September 1904, Page 13

BLUDGEONED BY THIEVES.

MIDNIGHT ATTACK IN A BRIXTOK

SHOP.

A strong element of mystery is associated with a very daring robbery effected withp/terrible violence Just before midnight on Saturday, July 23id, in the very heart of the business quarter of Brixton, London, only fifty yards from a police station.

The unfortunate victim, says a London exchange, is Mr Harold Browning, the manager of Mr David Grieg's provision stores in the Atlantic-road and close to Brixton station. He lies at present in St. Thomas' Hospital in a precarious condition, and his assailants, who made good their escape, are unknown and still at large. The robbery was cleverly planned and very quickly and silently executed-

The first intimation that anything unnsnal had happened was conveyed to a passer-by, who noticed a stream of blood

running across the pavement from beneath the shutters of the shop. The shutters had been closed, for the day's business was practically over, and all the assistants had gone, leaving the manager behind in the act of checking the day's takings previous to finally closing and catching a train for Beckenhain, where he resides in the Ravenscroft-road. FOUND UNCOXSC3OUS. When the premises were entered by the * police and a neighbouring tradesman, the , manager was found lying unconscious close to the cash desk with very severe wounds aboat his head. His pockets had been, rifled and turned inside out, while loose cheques and a quantity of cappers lay etrpwn about the counter. At first it was thought that Browning i was dead, but the divisional police-em geoa pronounced him to be still alive, although his skull was badly fractured. He was immediately removed to St. Thomas' Hospital. The clues on which the police are wortI 'ng are not strong, every precaution having apparently been taken to cover up a, night's work which resulted in a haul of over £200 in gold and sliver. On the floor of the shop, however, was found the leaded" portion of an ugly-looking life preserver, with which Browning had undoubtedly heen assailed, while a small parcel which contained lxrjm and a. tongue, wrapped tip ready for sending to a customer, was found on the counter. I This parcel lends considerable weight to the theory that the manager was engaged serving a customer when the onslaught was made on the cash desk, which stands close to the door. A CLEVER SCHEME. The premises must have been under close observation by aa accomplished and desperate gang of thieves during the even- | ing. They had waited until Browning was ' single handed, and while two of them—! women it Is supposed—engaged his attention by ordering the provisions, the others made an attack upon the desk.

The manager became aware of what wsa happening while the robbery was in progress, and making a dash to the door to raise an alarm was attacked a.Dd rendered senseless by a aeries of heavy blows upon the head.-

He lay bleeding profusely for some few, minutes before the police arrived. Meanwhile the thieves had successfully accomplished their work and departed.