Watchman Attacked By Burglars

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31588, 27 January 1968, Page 1

Watchman Attacked By Burglars

The nightwatchman at the Woolston Working Men’s Club was attacked by burglars about midnight on Thursday, his injuries causing his admission to hospital.

The nightwatchman, John Forsythe Allison, of 24A Tilford Street, suffered fractures of the jaw, cheekbone and ribs. He also has lacerations to the head, face and left arm. He is in the ChristChurch Hospital, where his condition last night was satisfactory. Detective Superintendent F. A. Gordon said yesterday that while Mr Allison was investigating voices he had heard

two men knocked him down and demanded the safe keys, which he did not have. During the attack Mr Allison was hit about the head with a screwdriver. As his assailants dragged him toward the office door Mr Allison struggled violently, and they flung him through a glass door.

After failing to force open the safe the two men left, taking with them the few cents they found. When Mr Allison regained consciousness, he staggered about 400 yards to a house where he saw a light burning. Policemen with dogs failed to find Mr Allison’s assailants.

The burglars first broke into the club’s bowling pavilion, about 220 yards from the main building where the attack occurred, and played bowls while waiting for the manager and head barman to leave.

The men the police are seeking are believed to be between 30 and 40 years of age. One is a Maori. The police yesterday began house-to-house questioning in

the area to get information about a vehicle the assailants are believed to have used. Anyone who can give information about movements of vehicles in the area between 10.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m. is asked to get in touch with the police.