MYSTERIOUS ASSAULT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 548, 28 December 1928, Page 1

MYSTERIOUS ASSAULT

TWO MEN ATTACKED BY MOTORISTS POLICE NOT INFORMED Apparently for no reason at all four men in a motor-car attacked two innocent visitors to the city near the entrance to the Ellerslie Racecourse about 1 o’clock yesterday morning. Air. A. W. Smithson, a Canterbury tennis player, and Mr. K. Welsh, of Hamilton, were the victims of the assault. Mr. Smithson is said to be suffering from shock and Mr. Welsh from a severe cut on the head. Although, as reported, the assault looks to be a serious one, the police know nothing about it. For some mysterious reason the injured men have kept the affair rather quiet. It is reported that Mr. Smithson and Mr. Welsh were walking home to their boardinghouse in Nolan Street, Ellerslie, early yesterday morning, when they were approached by four unknown men in a motor-car. The motorists asked the two men to jump into the car and have a drink. The invitation was courteously refused, and Messrs. Smithson -and Welsh started to walk on. Then, it is said, the four motorists jumped from the car and viciously assaulted the two men. They ran away toward the residence of Mr. A. C. Hill, the racecourse manager. Mr. Welsh says he was overtaken and struck on the head by one of his assailants, who then made off with his companions. r * Hill found Mr. Welsh lying on his verandah in a pool of blood. He had a gash on the head, which Mi’. Hill bandaged. The two men stayed with Mr. Hill for some time and then went on to their boardinghouse. As a result of his injuries Mr. Smithson was unable to play in the singles of the men’s championship tennis tournament. It seems strange that none of those concerned in. the affair rang the police No description of the car or the men in it has been given.