TWO MEN ATTACK SHOP KEEPER

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 6

TWO MEN ATTACK SHOP KEEPER

Tills Robbed And Keys Stolen OWNER SEIZED AND BOUND MR T. W. RICHARDS FOUND IN DAZED CONDITION Attacked by two men as he opened the side •door of his shop at the corner of Elies road and Janet street, South Invercargill, last night, Mr Thomas W. Richards lay for 20 minutes in a semiconscious condition until he was found by his wife. Mr Richards had just opened the side door of his shop to lock it on the outside when the intruders jumped upon’ him from the darkness. In the struggle he received cuts on his mouth, and his assailants, producing a length of rope, tied his hands firmly behind his back and then proceeded to rob the two tills, which contained small sums of money. They also took the keys of two safes, although whether these were opened is not yet known. It is understood that there was a sum of money in one of the safes. The rest of the store was hot disturbed. The door through which the intruders came opens on to a narrow passage, with the counter on one side and shelves of books on the other, and it was here that Mrs Richards, who had heard the sound of running feet as the men left the shop, found her husband lying. He was in a dazed condition, and, besides the injuries to his mouth, his wrists had been cut by the ropes and there were splashes of blood on the floor. Mrs Richards immediately telephoned the police, and Detective-Sergeant R. Thompson and Detectives T. Smith and J. Hill arrived within a few _ minutes. Mr Richards received attention from Dr W. J. Barclay. Mr Richards is a well-known resident of South Invercargill, and his shop, a brick and wooden building, is adjacent to his house, access to which is gained through the door where he was assaulted to a right-of-way between the two buildings. The two men could easily have hidden there for a considerable time without being seen by passers-by. At midnight a constable was on duty at the shop. No arrest had. been made at an early hour this morning.