BOMB OUTRAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1937, Page 5

BOMB OUTRAGE

AN EXPLOSION A SOLICITOR INJURED. (Per Press Association—Copyright). AUCKLAND, July 9. Wounded and bleeding from his head, hand and one leg, a. well-known Auckland solicitor, R. A. Singer was found in a state of partial collapse following on a violent explosion that occurred at his feet, as he was walking, along the garden path of his home at Grafton Road, City, at 6.15 o’clock to-night.

Singer, f who had alighted from a taxi-cab at his gate ft few seconds earliar, was assisted into his house, where was was attended by a doctor. He. was ordered to bed at his home, and his condition late '..to-night was noi> considered serious.

He received the injuries to the head, hand and one leg. The taxi was driven by Selwyn Casey, formerly a well-known racing motor cyclist. It did not stop in Grafton Road, but on a ramp leading to several houses, .including Singer’s which are on a much higher level than the street. The car was still at the gate when the explosion occurred, so rapidly did it follow Singer’s entry to his property.

“There was a deafening explosion and a blinding sheet, of .flame,Casev said. “For a moment or two I could not see Singer, nmjr I did not jknow what had happened. I then saw him staggering up the path towards the front door. The fumes of some explosive were heavy in the air, and immediately after the blast occurred windows in the porch of a house next door were broken. Showers of earth rained down for quite a time all over my car, and even on the roof of Singer’s house, and that- of the house next door.”

Singer was hurled sideways by the explosion, which occurred in- the rockery at the right-hand side of the path. Singer was dazed, but he managed to stagger a- few yards to tlie front- porch of his home. He had already lost considerable blood when the door opened. He was assisted by a passer-by, who had run to the house after hearing the Explosion. Members of the household took Singer inside, and endeavoured to stop the bleeding of Ills wounds.

Dr Douglas Robb was summoned and the police were advised. General alarm was caused in the neighbourhood hv tlie explosion, whicV was accompanied by a brilliant sheet of flame. A -deep hole was torn in the earth of the rockery.

Two windows in the porch of the house next door were smashed. ’1 he whole path, as well as the taxi which Singer just left, were liberally coated with earth. One of the signs clipped to the side of the taxi was blown off, and shrubs and flowers in the rockeiy were uprooted. A bundle of hooks and papers which Singer was carrying was burst open, and the contents, some of them blown to shreds, were scattered about the garden. Jagged holes were torn in stout brown paper in which the documents were wrapped.