HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1469, 26 August 1865, Page 2

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

Yesterday morning information was forwarded to the police authorities that Mr. R. Dean, an old and respected settler, had been attacked and robbed.

It appears that on Wednesday last, about 10.30 a.m., Mr. Dean was proceeding to Ak&roa, along the Purau line of road. When near Mount FitzGerald he saw two men coming up towards him. They stopped him, and one of them demanded if he had any money about him. He replied in the affirmative. One man knocked him down, and, kneeling upon his body, rifled his pockets, taking therefrom the following amount: —Three £5 notes, ten £1 notes, seven sovereigns, and two shillings, besides a knife and some other articles. The other man did n»t interfere, but sat down, evidently keeping a look-out. He was holding a bull-dog at the time. After leaving Mr. Dean, taking the booty with them, he (Mr. Dean) turned back, after they had proceeded about twenty yards, and begged them to return his money, adding that in the event of their refusing to do so, they would hare the curse of a poor man. Upon this, the man who had knocked him down drew a pistol and fired, saying—" Take that." The ball passed close to Mr. Dean's hat, but providentially did not hit him. It is supposed that the miscreants are intending to go to the West Coast, as they were heard to say that the money which they had obtained would be enough to take them to Hokitika. We regret to learn that Mr. Dean, who is a man advanced in years, and much liked by all who know him, has sustained a severe internal injury from the violence with which his assailants have treated him.