BRUTAL ATTACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 67, 21 March 1938, Page 9

BRUTAL ATTACK.

BLOW WITH BOTTLE. ASSAILANT ESCAPES. TAXI DBIVKR VICTIM. A sensational attack upon a taxi driver was made by his passenger at an early hour on Saturday morning. The car was near the Western Springs stadium, and the victim was Mr. Charles James, aged 39. of 13, Komaru Street, Remuera. After being struck on the back of the head with a beer bottle, Jlr. James, afraid that his assailant might return and further injure him. drove to a garage, and was later taken to the Auckland Hospital, where he was treated in the casualty department. "Poll Up Here." Fortunately hks injuries were not serious. To-day, although he is again driving his taxi. Mr. James is still suffering from shock. " The unknown assailant entered Mr James' car at the Civic Square rank, at the junction of Queen Street and Grey's Avenue, about midnight. The taxi had only pulled up there when the man opened the back door end entered the taxi. He asked to be driven to Western Springs. Mr. James , course was along the Oreat Xorth Road, and when the car arrived at the junction of Western Springs Road, neai the stadium, Mr. James asked the man exactly where he wished to go. "To the top of the hill" was his reply. When the taxi was midway between Bannerman Road and Springfield Eoad the passenger in the back seat mfered' the driver -to stop. <\PuH U p here. 3 he said.

**I started to stop bit car," said Mr Tames, "but before I 'could pull up I felt a sadden shock from behind. At first I thought it was another car that liad struck mine from behind. I then put my hand op behind my head and felt pieces of glass on the sack of my neck. I saw that my hand was covered with blood. By this time the man had cot out of my ear, and as I looked round I could see him at the back of my car Fearing a further attack I put my car into gear and drove straight to a earage in Exmouth Street." Vβ Warning. Mr. James added that the attack was made without any warning. The passenger made no attempt to pay his &re. At no time was there any conversation or discußGion about the iare. No attempt was made by the assailant to rob Mr. James, who thinks tbe man assaulted him for the purpose of evadine his fare. s Found in a dazed condition by another taxi driver when he reached the garage, Mr. James was driven to the Auckland Hospital in company with a constable from the Newton Station. The assault was immediately reported to the detective office and Detective Whitehead and a constable, who were on duty in the night patrol car, searched the* locality where the assault had occurred but their search was in vain. "When the police searched the taxi j they found the neck of the broken beer bottle on the floor in the back compartment, and also small pieces of the bottle scattered over tbe front seat and floor of the car. The Mow struck at Mr. James was of such force that the bottle was smashed on his head. He had a most fortunate escape from serious injury. Detective* assigned to the case have been making investigations over the week-end, but so far no arrest has been made.