FIGHT WITH A ROBBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18556, 14 November 1923, Page 10

FIGHT WITH A ROBBER.

WAIHI MAN ASSAULTED.

DARING ATTEMPT AT THEFT.

INVESTOR'S RACE WINNINGS. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIHI. Tuesday. One of the most daring attempts at theft, accompanied by violence, in the history of Waihi, is reported to have occurred shortly before ten o'clock last night at the residence of Mr. S. Tanner, master butcher, who resides in Moresby Avenue. Mr. Tanner had attended the Hamilton Jockey Club's meeting yesterday, and had returned home with substantial winnings. Two Waihi friends, who were with him, were his guests at his house for a few minutes after their return just before nine o'clock. Shortly after their departure Mr. Tanner's son asked his father how much he had won. Taking the notes from his pocket, Mr. Tanner handed them to the Jad, who counted up the amount and after replacing the money on the table, went to bed. Omitting to immediately put the notes back in his pocket, Mr. Tanner sat for some little time reading. Mr. Tanner heard somebody unlatch the door from outside. He instinctively reached for the money and put it back in his trousers pocket, "He then turned his head toward the door to see who his visitor was. As he did so the man rushed at him with an iron bar with which he aimed a blow at his head. This was partially warded off by Mr. Tanner's upraised arm. but yet it fell with sufficient force to strike him to the floor and momentarily stun him. On recovering Mr. Tanner states that he found his assailant astride of him with one hand at his throat, while with the other he was fumbling for his trousers pocket into which he had evidently seen the money thrust. Seizing his man he wound his legs round him, slowly turning over and at the same time warding off a blow from a dangerous looking weapon which the other man had raised to strike again. A desperate struggle ensued, in the course of which the intruder was forced to drop the weapon. Ultimately Mr. Tanner got the advantage, and with one arm fro struck his adversary four or five heavy blows on the face. 'He then liftel him in his arms and threw him bodily through the closed window to the accompaniment of crashing glass. The drop from the window sill to the ground is about eight feet. Mr. Tanner then threw up the window, and clambered out, but when he ground the man had disappeared. That the intruder was marked in the struggle wa3 indicated by blood on Mr. Tanner's knuckles. The man was about Mr. Tanner's height and clean shaven and was a total stranger tp him. It is presumed that the intruder was looking about the premises at the time that the guests left, and that later he overheard from beneath the window the conversation "between the father and son in regard to the | money. Quite probably, it is suggested, i he had seen Mr. Tanner collecting dividends at the races and had followed him to Waihi.

SPECULATION AT WANGANUI. THE ARAMOHO TRAGEDY. l»T TTUtORAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDS* WANGANTJI. Tuesday. The assault on Mr. S. Tanner at Waihi, with intent to commit robbery, has caused some speculation here as to" whether the culprit is not the person who was responsible for the tragedy at Aramoho. That an iron bar should be used in both instances is regarded as a coincidence, when taken in conjunction with the fact that robbery was also the motive for the assault. Hopes are entertained that the police in the Ohinemuri district will be successful in tracing the person concerned in the Waihi assault.