ATTACKED BY INTRUDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1939, Page 6

ATTACKED BY INTRUDER

MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HASTINGS, February 6. Struck down from behind by an intruder into his home, William George Corbin, of Otamauri, was admitted to Royston Hospital, Hastings, to-night, suffering from lacerations and a fractured skull. His condition is serious.

Corbin,’single, aged 36, engaged in farming in the Otamauri district about 28 miles from Hastings on the Taihape road, was yesterday morning preparing his breakfast about 9 o’clock when he received a terrific blow on the head from behind. He collapsed on the floor, and on regaining consciousness found standing over him a well-built man holding a hammer. “Say nothing ..about this,” Corbin was told, “or you’ll get it again.” In spite of his terrible injuries Corbin grappled with the attacker and eventually managed to escape. He made his way to a neighbour’s house about a mile distant and, though suffering intensely from pain and shock, summoned the police himself and gave a. description of the intruder.

It was not long before the police were on the scene and, aided by.nearby settlers and shepherds, an intensive search of the country in the neighbourhood of Corbin’s house was made. Throughout the afternoon the hunt continues, though the searchers were hampered by heavy rain and a violent thunderstorm.

The hunted man was eventually captured in the earlj' evening on a farm near Whana Whana, a few miles from the scene of the attack. At a late hour last night the police party returned, bringing the arrested man with them. ACCUSED IN COURT. NAPIER, February 7. Following a police hunt, yesterday, Thomas George Flanigan, 25, la'bourer. of no fixed abode, was. charged this morning that, with intent to maim, he did grievous bodily harm to Wilia'm George Corbin. On the application of the police, accused was remanded until Monday. The condition of Corbin was reported, to-day, to be easier.