MAULED BY A THUG

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8103, 4 May 1912, Page 1

MAULED BY A THUG

OLD MAN ROBBED KNOCKED SENSELESS BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT ‘‘SHOUT/’ A SUSPECT AERESTED. PKESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, May «J. ' Prank Taylor was arrested this morning on a charge of having last evening violently assaulted and robbed Edward Olsen, an enfeebled man seventy-tour years of age. , , ■ When seen at tho corner of Customs and Queen streets, where he sells newspapers, Olsen, who had struggled down to his employment because lie had not the wherewithal to purchase a meal, was found to be in a very weak state and shaking from head to foot. As he received payment for a paper he coulu only sob his thanks. . . Olsen made the following statement: "I was alone in my room in St. Paul street last evening about 8 o clock when a young man entered and remarked, ‘You have got to shout/ I refused, whereupon the nuin 6£iicl, ‘I will make you/ caught me by tho throat, aud threw me back on 1 to the bed in the cortier. The man then snatched my watch and chain, and, ripping open my trousers pockets took all they contained —about 25s in silver. I called for help, but tho intruder tightened his grip upon my throat till I became insensible and collapsed. After some time I recovered consciousness and crawled along to Constable Watson’s residence near by* 1 told the constable what had happened/ Constable Watson at once made a search, but without result. Olsen supplied Constable Gourley with particulars ot the case, and from the description it was thought that the arrested man was implicated. With the assistance of Constable Baker search was made. It was soon learned that Taylor had spent the night on board the auxiliary (schooner May Howard, but he had left there early this morning. Search was made through a number of hotels, 1 and Taylor was eventually discovered in one. On being charged with assault he strenuously denied any knowledge of the affair. - He was taken to the water-front police station and ' searched, the watch and chain being found in his possession. This Olsen claimed as the one he had been wearing, previous to the assault. Taylor had only Is in his pocket.

He was charged at the Police Court this morning, and on the application ot the police was remanded , for a week.