HAMMER FOUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24083, 30 September 1941, Page 6

HAMMER FOUND

NEWMARKET ASSAULT THEFTS FROM OFFICES THREE SUSPECTS ARRESTED A bloodstained claw hammer which is believed to have been used in a vicious attack on Mr. Eric Lloyd Riley, . factory manager, when the premises of E. L. Riley, clothing manufacturer, in Nuffield Street, Newmarket, were broken into by three persons on Sunday afternoon, was found by tlrt police yesterday near the scene of the struggle. Detectives also recovered a bank bag containing £SO in the factory, but over £IOO is still missing. Small 6ums were taken from two other offices in the same building. Mr. Riley was injured when he endeavoured to stop one of the men, whom he surprised at the "safe, from making his escape. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital with a deep head wound, which had penetrated the skull, and concussion. His condition last night vfus still serious. Mr. Riley is aged 31, and lives at 24 Inverness Avenue, Mount Roskill. Struggle With Intruder I The attack was made shortly after four o'clock, when Mr. Riley, with his wife and child of four, entered the office to lock the safe, which had been left open. Mrs. Riley heard voices in the office and three persons were discovered standing by the safe. They made for the faciory when Mr. Riley grappled with one of them, and Mrs. Riley saw her husband fall behind a counter, still struggling with-one of the thieves. She then rang the police. Upon going out into the street the found her husband staggering about dazed from a blow on the head. Other Premises Entered Inquiries yesterday revealed that thieves had entered the premises of Killip and Jackson, brass finishers, in the same block, through a side window. From the office £3 and a quantity of stamps were taken. A large steel cabinet in the office . of the Nuffield Manufacturing Company forced open by the intruders, who eto.e £B. Following extensive inquiries by detectives three suspects we r e ane>tod about five o'clock last evening. The arrests were made by Detective-Ser-geant Walsh, Detective Halpin and Detective Rossiter.* Two of the suspects are juveniles.