NOT SERIOUS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21363, 5 June 1939, Page 11

NOT SERIOUS

TAXI-DRIVER’S WOUNDS By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, June 3. Mr W. G. Styants, a taxi-driver who was attacked in his taxi last night by two young male passengers, was allowed to leave hospital to-day to return to hip home at Grey Lynn. Ten knife wounds, the most serious being one over the left juglar vein, were discovered. It is believed that they were inflicted by a penknife. Mr Styants said, in an interview today, that there was no argument about the fare. He was unable to account for the sudden savage attack. When he stopped opposite some scrub, as requested, one of the men struck him from behind with a heavy instrument and over the left ear. Mr Styants said that he could not turn because he was behind the driving wheel. Both men grabbed him by the coat collar, one holding him by the neck while the other, more heavily built, stabbed him.

“I realised that if I didn’t leave the car, I would be done in,” Mr Styants said to-day. “I hauled myself out of the car, which was the only way of breaking the grip of the two men. Both men left the car and ran into the scrub. I followed for 25 yards, but was unable to go further as the blood streaming from my clothing absolutely drenched me.”

Detectives are spreading a wide net in a hope of finding the alleged assailants. Mr Styants, who weighs 15 stone, is popujar with his fellow drivers. He owns his own car.