BANK OFFICIAL SHOT AT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 1

BANK OFFICIAL SHOT AT

WHILE DRIVING ON COUNTRY ROAD ATTEMPTED highway robbery. ONE LITERALLY PEPPERED WITH SHOT. PEES 3 ASSOCIATION. HAMILTON, February 8. WLat is regarded as a deliberate iatteunipt at highway robbery near here today, when a clerk from a local bank, while proceeding to the Oha/upo stock sal© wutb a bag of money, was fired at from a clump of ti-tree by tli© roadside and received a charge of Shot full dn the face.

It appears that W. L. Ward, the manager of the Hamilton branch of the Hank of Australasia, and Leslie (Jordan, the ledger-keeper at the Hank of .New Zealand, were driving together in a buggy to Ohaupo, where thoir respective ‘banks have receiving offices. It is customary for these officials to go to Ohaupo on Tuesday each week, carrying with them sums of money. Ward was driving, and when in a dip of the road at what as locally known as Mystery Creek, which is approached on either side by la so'mewhat steep rise, ,the roport of a gun. rang out, presumably from a iciump of hushes on the loft side. This was ait about 11 o'clock. Jordan received the charge of shot in the aide of his face and also fin has neck, arm and ohest. He fell over against his companion bleeding profusely. The horse immediately ran away, but the driver (Ward) succeeded in quietening ,it and then drew a revolver which he always earned ton the trip. He looked around for seine evidence as to the origin of the shot, but non© could he seen, the absence of amok© ana king dt appear that smokeloss powder was used. Ward then' drove to the nearest house, where first aid hr,as (rendered to Jordan, and afterwards drove him to the "Waikato Hospital, where he now hcs.

There seems little doubt that a deliberate attempt was made at highway robbery, laml ‘the wCmder lib that both men wore not killed outright. Ward miraculously escaped without a scratch, although he felt the concussion of the ah- as the shots struck Jordan.

The injured man is twenty-six years of age and has been connected with the Hamilton branch of the Battik of Now Zealand for about two years. His injuries are not wary serious, although ho was literally peppered with the shots with which the gun was loaded. Fortunately ihis eyes were uninjured, vvlthouigh the force of the shot blew his false teeth plate out of Ilia mouth. The poliae, aided by -civilians, are new scouring the (country in search wf the assailant.