"SANDBAGGED."

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13351, 17 December 1906, Page 5

"SANDBAGGED."

!— »■ ■ A TARANAKL MiAN THE VICTIM. j 1 ' Tor Press AsßOciation. ■ ' r Ghristchxirclv December Ifi. *" MrL. Oi Hooker Oof Hawera). who has charge ,df thtiTaranald Court 'at the International - Exhibition, \\-a* made tho victim *>i a dastardly attack by "sand-baggers" on Friday night. Mr Hooker was hurrying 'honw '• to his lodgings in the city about 9.30, and proceeding along the .avenue 'towards the Hospital . bridge. When *about thirty y^ards past th« Hiuseum he -was accosted by a thick vset man. v who approached hini from 'the rear, and onfqtui'ed the time. Mr Hooker jmbuttoned his" overcoat to reach iis watch, and as he leaned dinvn to ascertain the -desired ' information .tl"^ ""man maide ,a at the- chain. rwijii^i broke a,way fro,m the- watch.* ' At /the sarnie" moment another man stepped up and dealt M* Hooker a •heavy, 'blow with a sand-bag. . T)iis % swung, round his^ neck and struck . hian on the temple, twisting him off jhis legs, and causing him' to fall stuwned to the ground. ''"When." h© regained consciousness, Mr Hooicer found that he had liis watch , still tightly in Iris, hand, l:mt~ the silver chain, upon Which was ; a much-prized medal, was missing. r T'ho ' thieves had. turned out all his noqkots•except those in his vest (one of which contained a sum in silver), and had abstracted a £1 note and a, small amount of silver 'from- his hip pocket.