BATTERED ON HEAD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18593, 2 January 1935, Page 4

BATTERED ON HEAD

TAXI-DRIVER INJURED

ROBBED OF TAKINGS PASSENGER USES TORCH (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Battered on the head with a heavy electric torch by a passenger he had driven from Newton to Freeman’s Bay early yesterday morning, Mr. Brian Hyland, a taxi driver, recovered consciousness in his cab to find that he had been robbed of his New Year’s Eve takings, amounting to £3 11s (id. Mr. Hyland is a relieving driver employed by the Atta Company. He was driving along Karangahape road towards Queen, street shortly after 4.30 o’clock yesterday morning after leaving a fare when he was hailed by a man who said he was an intending passenger. He had evidently been talking with a group of people and he. stepped into the roadway to halt the taxi.

The passenger asked to be driven to a house in Freeman’s Bay. During the journey, the man, who was well spoken, said that he had been to a dance and he also inquired concerning the business Mr. Hyland had done during New Year’s Eve. The cab was stopped at the passenger’s request. When the passenger asked the amount of hip fare, Mr. Hyland said it was Is 6d. There was a torch, Mr. Hyland’s property, between the driver and the passenger, who picked up the article as he left the cab. The manwalked around the front of tho vehicle, at the same time putting his hand in his pocket and Mr. Hyland thought the man was coming around to his side of the car to pay the fare. The man opened the door on tho driver’s side and Mr. Hyland leaned over to check the amount of the fartei registered on the meter. As he w;]H doing so, he noticed thei man’s arbjH raised and he received a heavy blo«^

on the right temple. Mr. Hyland was 1 knocked unconscious. It was evident that lie was struck at least once more, for there was an injury at the back of the head. When he regained consciousness, there was no sign of his assailant and .Mr. Hyland’s takings had been stolen from hi's clothing. The torch was lying on the roadway. Mr. Hyland’s injuries fortunately were not serious enough to require medical attention. He immediately drove to the Central Police-Station to report the assault.