ASSAULT IN THE DARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16121, 8 January 1916, Page 6

ASSAULT IN THE DARK.

RAILWAY PORTER ATTACKED. MISTAKEN FOR "PROFESSOR,* ASSAILANTS OBSESSION. [from OCTI own COKEXSPONDEXT.! PcKrsoHr, Fridav. A sudden assault was made on a railway official named William Pye at the Pokeno railway station at an early hear this morning. With the approach to the Pkena station about half an hour after midnight of a goods train southward bound from Auckland Pye left the railway office, and with a lamp in one hand and a tablet in the other proceeded along the platform for the purpose of setting the tablet operator in position. Suddenly a man --rra: .- cut of the darkne»s and knocked him v ; -_.ler.tly to the ground. Pye laid hold of his assailant, who also fell, and the pair rolled over several times in the strugg'e for mas'en Pye's cries for assistance brought another railway employee to the rescue, v.n-b the result that his assailant wa. everpowered. Ho was secured and taken to the Mercer police station in the tram in charge- of the jruard and the ti a%•*»!'.:tig porter. At the police station the man gave the name of Edward Joy, aged 27 year.-. He said that he had walked from Well..ret on and had been followed by a "professor'' of hypnotism, whom he named, and who would not lot him sleep. He went on to say that while hiding on the Pokeno railway station platform he saw the "professor*' approaching him, and thought it a good opportunity to "settle" him. He added that he was not acquainted with the " professor," but nevertheless frequently had lengthy and mysterious conversations with him. The man, who evidently mistook Pve for the " professor," presents a very unkempt appearance, his face being adorned with a tawny beard and side whiskers. He was conveyed to Aucuiand this afternoon to undergo medical examination as to his sanity. His story that he has walked through from Wellington is apparently true. Prior to arriv.ng in New Zealand three years ago he was a sailor, and has since worked in the Wellington district as a farm hand-