GAROTTING IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12544, 11 April 1904, Page 5

GAROTTING IN AUCKLAND.

CITY CORONER ATTACKED. .' ROBBED OF A WATCH CHAIN, AND MASONIC JEWELS. Further evidence of the presence of undesirable characters in Auckland is furnished by two recent cases ot garottiug. In the first instance a farmer walking up Wellesley-street recently was set upon by a couple of men who darted out from Princes-street, almost opposite the police station, assaulted and robbed him, and then bolted towards Queen-street, and had vanished before the police coufd be summoned.

The latest victim of the garotte is Mi. Thomas Gresham, the city coroner, who, when returning home on Saturday night, was set upon in Allen Road, opposite the Supreme Court. He was very roughly treated, and was robbed of his gold watchchain, worth £15, "and some Masonic jewels.

Mr, Gresham was seen by a representaj tive of the Herald last evening, and dej scribed the attack: " I had been assisti ing at a Masonic function at the Freemasons' Hall," he said, "and after it was J over I went with some friends to the AuckI land Club. On returning home, when just I outside the Supreme Court, I heard footsteps approaching me from behind. I took no particular notice at the time, bub just as the town clock was chiming eleven 1 : was clutched by the throat from behind, | and a bag containing my Masonic apron I and jewels was wrenched from my hand lat the same time. Thinking it might be | some Masonic friends having a joke, I I offered no resistance, and to this I attribute my escape from a rougher handling than I received. When a, man whipped round from behind and began tugging ot my watchchaiu, I realised that it was no joking matter, and I at once acted on the defensive. I swung round and caught hold of the man who was holding me by the throat, and- shook myself free. One of them cried " Make haste," and then both the robbers made off, with my Masonic insignia and gold chain, which in the wrench had broken away from my gold watch and sovereign case, leaving them in my pocket My mackintosh was torn, and the violence of the clutch on my throat burst my collar, but I was heartily thankful to get free. Itwas useless to go after the robbers, even if I could catch them. "On Saturday night," added Mr. Oresham, "I had a Masonic jewel presented to me. This I had no room for in my apron case, Si, I put it into my pocket, and am glad to say it was not stolen. The chain with the watch was the gift of a friend many years ago, and I valued itvery highly. The Masonic jewels that were stolen I prize very much too, and 1 have had them also for many years. 'Iney have my name inscribed upon them, and are- of no use to anyone else. "On arrival home I telephoned to the police, informing them of the incident, rind a constable was down at my house in nine minutes, which was pretty smart work, 1 think. I made a report to him, and there the matter stands. " I had a severe shaking up, I may say and my throat is still very painful inside and bruised outside, but although feeling much upset I was able to hold two inquests this morning alp Avondale, and to attend church this evening."

Mr. Gresham, when seen yesterday, appeared to have suffered a great deal more at the hands of the garotters than he was prepared to admit. He was very modest in describing Ins successful struggle with the two men, who from what he described appear to have been powerful fellows, and not inclined to stick at trifles. The spot where Mr. Gresham was set upon is a peculiarly lonely one aftei dark, and but poorly lighted at night. Mr. Gresham is under the impression that his assailants believed he was going to take Constitution Hill, am l that they therefore planned to waylay him there and drag him into the grass, where in the heavy shade of the trees they could have " gone through" him in a more leisurely fashion than they did.