ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17277, 29 September 1919, Page 6

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

MAN KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS

ASSAILANTS SECURE £40.

ATTACK IN THE DARKNESS.

INJURED VICTIM'S STORY.

A sensational story of how he was attacked by two men in a street in Parnell, and robbed of £40 on Thursday night last, was recounted yesterday by Mr. William Waugh, of 60, Manukau Road, Parnell, who now lies suffering from concussion of the brain in the Auckland Hospital.

The victim of the assault was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood in a dark corner of Selwyu Terrace late on Thursday night, and, though he has now regained his senses, he is suffering great pain.

The details of the assault indicate that Mr. Waugh was the victim of a chance attack, not of a pie-considered scheme. The patient, questioned concerning the incidents of the attack upon him, slated that he had visited the city in the afternoon, and had in his pocket a wallet containing about £40, the proceeds, of a business transaction. He took the wallet from his pocket once to pay for a drink in a hotel, but was careful to hold it beneath the counter when he opened it, so that no one could have seen the money. By chance he decided to walk home over Constitution Hill, instead of taking the car, as was usually his custom. He passed beneath the Parnell RailwayBridge at about seven o'clock, and as he turned into Seiwyn Terrace he noticed two lighted cigarettes burning in the darkness a little higher up the street. Just as he passed two dark figures he was suddenly gripped from behind by one man, while the second forced his "head down into his chest, at the same time grasping Mr. Waugh 's throat to prevent him from crying out. The assailant's hold was so strong that he almost strangled Mr. Waugh. So sudden was the attack and so roughly was he handled that Mr. Waugh is able to recall little more of the occurrence. He says he remembers feeling a blow on the head and someone going through all his pockets. His assailants were strongly-built men, and one wore a cap, but in the darkness he could not discern their features.

Upon regaining consciousness at the hospital Mr. Waugh found that his wallet containing the £40 had been rifled, and that about 14s in silver had also been stolen. The thieves took neither his wr*t!et watch nor his ring, and left a shilling and two coppers in one pocket.