ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1921, Page 10

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

GtRL W-OUND. IN BIVER. ■ On Wednesday evcniirg Ttfst at a late hour the Raetihi police received word from Bark-ahi that an robbery had -been committed in -the vicinity of Smith's mill. Constable McCowan immediately proceeded to Hie scene and commenced to investigate’the matter (says the Raetihi pjuper). From what can -be gathered -it -gippears. that a young man named “Jock” Aitcheson, of Mataroa, was visiting Pakahi and was staying with Miss Lucy Hodges’ relatives, The couple are .engaged 'tb be married, and it is presumed that arrangements were being madb for the coming event. 5 . On. Wednesday, Aitcheson received a telegram -from a man named West, inviting him to -Come to town (Raetihi), and receive the £2OO, owing by West to Aitcheson. ■ Early in the evening Miss,.Hodges, accompanied, . Aitcheson ’to Raetihi- -A-it-cho.son is supposed to have, called at the Waimarino Hotel and .if. West \Vas ifi, iind received a negative reply. He afterwards located his man and it ife reported that the sura of £2OO was handed over. Aitcheson then tied the money in a pocket handkerchief and rejoined Miss Hodges, and after making several small" purchases in the of fruit, etc., they proceeded on tWfr "way homeward, via, the railway line. Nothing eventful happened during their walk of about t,wo and. ,_a-half miles to the turn off down the tram line through the bush. When about lialf way through the bush, it is reported they stopped, and while talking, Miss Hodges was struck from behind on the back of the. head, and she fell tp the ground, a nasty wound being inflicted. Aiteheson. did V'hat he could to bring the young lacly to and when this was effected the couple again proceeded on their way lidmc.Further along the line, however, Aitcheson is reported to have been seized by . someone and forced to the ground and. robbed of £2OO and other money.

On his recovering from his Tough handling, at the hands of someone unknown, the couple proceeded Isome, where Miss Hodges was attended to. From inquiries made it appears that Aitcheson again left the house of Hodges, apparently to return to the scene of his misfortune and ascertain the whereabouts of his assailants. He had not proceeded far, however, when he was seized by two men (unknown) and thrown into the river, witieh rtlns close by. After much difficulty he managed to get out of the river and eventually succeeded in arriving at the house where he was staying, in a most eX*-hau-sted and excited condition.