STRUCK DOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 9

STRUCK DOWN.

FARMER ATTACKED. TERRIFIC BLOW ON HEAD. POLICE ARREST SUSPECT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTIXGS, this day. Struck down from behind by an unseen assailant, Mr. William George Corbin, of Otamauri, was admitted to Rovston Hospital, Hastings, last night suffering from lacerations and a fractured skull. His condition is serious. Mr. Corbin, a single man aged 30, is engaged in farming in the Otamauri district, about 28 miles from Hastings on the Taihape road. At about nine o'clock on Sunday morning he was preparing his breakfast when he received a terrific blow on the head from behind. He collapsed to the floor, and on regaining consciousness found standing over him a well-built man holding a hammer. "Say nothing about this," Mr. Corbin was told, "or you'll get it again." Despite his terrible injuries, Mr. Corbin grappled with his attacker, and eventuajiv managed to escape. He made his way to a neighbour's house, about a mile distant, and though suffering intensely from pain and shock, himself summoned the police and gave a description of the intruder.

It was not long liefore the police were on the scene, and aided by nearby settlers and shepherds, an intensive search of the country in the vicinity of Mr. Corbin's house was made. Throughout the afternoon the man hunt continued, though the searchers were hampered by heavy rain and a violent thunderstorm.

A man was eventually arrested in the early evening on a farm near Whanawhana. a few miles from the scene of the attack.