STRUCK BY BURGLAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21830, 19 June 1934, Page 8

STRUCK BY BURGLAR

ENCOUNTER IN SHOP TWO INTRUDERS ESCAPE ' INCIDENT AT OHINEWAI i -f A vicious attack was made by on# of two intruders on a man who disturbed them in the shop of Mr. A Gall, at Ohinewai, about four o'clock yesterday morning. The victim of the attack was Mr. F. Meuli, formerly a well-known athlete, and it is believed that a heavy torch was used to strike him on head. He was temporarily dazed. A noise awoke Mr. Meuli, who is «n r ployed by Mr. Gall and sleeps in a room adjoining the shop. He went quietly into the shop and saw two men, one of whom was carrying an electric torch; Mr. Meuli immediately endeavoured to grapple with' the me'n, but while hewas still behind the counter and unable to move freely, one of them struck him a heavy blow, presumably with the torch he was carrying. The blow was sufficient to daze him; Both men left hurriedly, and when Mr. Meuli had recovered sufficiently to go to the shop door, he saw a motorcar being driven away. A window in a storeroom at the back of the shop was broken by the intruders so as to enter the premises. It is believed the men intended to rifle the safe, which contained money. They were disturbed, however, before taking, anything. Bloodstains found on the broken glass of the window through which the intruders entered and later left indicate that one. or both, suffered asevere cut on the hand. The police ara endeavouring to trace the two men, and would appreciate information con-, cerning a motorist with a heavilybandaged hand. Mr. Meuli, who has lived in the district for some years, was formerly & well-known Wanganui cricketer and footballer. He. was later prominent ag a Rugby referee. . / CITY PREMISES ROBBED INTRUDERS AT WEEK-END Two burglaries committed at ths week-end were discovered yesterday morning and reported to the police. Cigarettes, tobacco, chocolate, a watch and a small sum of money, of a total value of about £7, were stolen from the cafe of Sir. G. S. Smith, in Market Place, City. It is believed that children or youths committed the burglary, as the kitchen window, through which entry was gained from a yard, is less than a foot square. The goods were-taken from shelves in the shop, the intruders not waiting to pick up some packets of cigarettes they dropped. The watch was taken from the kitchen, and the money, about 6s, from the tobacco shelf. A careful search among the stock was made by a burglar who stole a pair of women's shoes and a pair of boots from the shop of H. S. Chambers and Sons, 232 Karangahape Road. The property is valued at £2 4s Bd. A large section of the stock was inspected,' and many boxes tha,t had been disturbed were found on the floor of tfcs shop. l ' The intruder broke a window at the back of the building to. enter, and smashed open two doors inside the premises before reaching the front shop. The till was pulled open, but it contained no money.