BRUTAL ASSAULT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1931, Page 11

BRUTAL ASSAULT

WATCHMAN BATTERED

THIEVES CAUGHT IN OFFICE;

Shortly after 2 o'clock this morning Mr. M. Juriss, a watchman • employed by the Wellington City Council; was attacked and severely battered about the head by two men whom he found in the act of ransacking the Electricity Department's accounts office in Harris street. The men. escaped after attacking Mr. Juriss-with sandbags.or pieces of pipe, and. knocking him. unconscious. Mr. Juriss, who suffered concussion and minor injuries to his faco and hands, was removed to hospital, but was well enough to return to his" home to-day. Mr. Juriss stated to-day that when ho entered the accounts office in the course of his usual rounds ho saw a man crouching under a table. There was also another man in tho room, and when Mr. Juriss attempted to manoeuvre himself into a position near the front door to give .the alaxm.-the two intruders sprang at him. ■ One of them grabbed him by tho throat while the other struck at his head with what ap-peared-to be a piece of iron. After a struggle Mr. Juriss was rendered unconscious, and tho thieves da&hcd off down the street.

Although a number of drawers in the office were forced open by tho thieves they succeeded in obtaining only a few shillings belonging to a member of the staff. "