"SANDBAGGED.

Auckland Star, 2 January 1931, Page 8

"SANDBAGGED.

MAN ROBBED AT EPSOM-

BAG WITH £68 STOLEN.

TWO STRANGERS IN TAXI

NEIGHBOURS HEAR CRIES

Knocked out by a blow between the 5 eyes'with 1 a "sandbag," then robbed of a I handbag.; containing £68 and left uncor.-.;: scious outside his front gate *as tfoM exporii'iiro of a riiiddb-aged man, Mr. AM M. Baird, co-proprietor of tlie Renown Cafe, in the early hours of New Y ,ar's . : Day. Mr. Baird to-day has two black;| eyes and a broken nose. About one o'clock on New Year's morn. § ing,just on closing time in the cafe, Mr.' l Baird says, 1)8. left with his bag b|| money (two days' takings) to go to his home'in Selwyn •Bnad', near Greenwood's;.Corner, Epsom. Outside the cafe he : ; hailed a passing taxi. Two men who, he I said, had followed him out of tli|| restaurant, also got into the taxi. One"! sat in front with the driver, and thea other at the back with" Mr. Baird. The | bag, with the money in it, was on the floor at Mr. Baird's feet. "A ( Happy New Year!" When Mr. Baird's. house in Selwyu. Road was reached, the two men, total 1 strangers to him,, also got out. The , taxi turned, Mr. Baird said, and went 1 off down the road. The two strangers. 1 and Mr. Baird talked for a time on the 1 footpath. Then Mr. Baird wished them_ a happy New Year, and turned to walk | inside his gate. "Ono man punched me in the face,"v said Mr. Baird. "I held him off', but • the other man dashed in and 'sand-.;-bagged' me. I went clean out. After " the°firet bash, I yelled out for _ help. Then .1 saw some stars and I did not know any more until I was picked* up. My glasses and my pipe, both of which. were broken, were found lying alongside, me." Followed From. Restaurant. Mr. Baird's cries attracted neighbours. His wifo was at a party just across the | street, and she and others from the party | ran to his aid. They picked him up; still unconscious. His assailants had gone. - "As a rule I go home on the last tram,"" said Mr. Baird, "but we WtsM busy, so I stayed on. Whenever I dotake a taxi home, I often-give people a .lift. But never again."

Mr. Baird said that, one of his waiters; in the caie told him the two men had twice been in the restaurant during the evening. When he left with his bag, they immediately followed.