VICIOUS ATTACK BY INTRUDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 230, 30 September 1941, Page 6

VICIOUS ATTACK BY INTRUDER

FACTORY MANAGER BADLY INJURED MONEY STOLEN FROM SAFE (Press Assn.) Auckland, Sept. 29. Viciously attacked by one of three men whom he surprised while they were rifling the safe of a clothing factory in Newmarket yesterday, Eric Lloyd Riley, aged 31, manager of the factory, suffered severe head injuries and is in hospital in a serious condition.

Riley’s wife and four-year-old child saw the attack. Mrs. Riley rang the police, but the men escaped before the police arrived. It was later discovered that about £lOO in cash was missing from the safe.

Riley called at the factory of E. L. Riley, Limited, shortly after 4 p.m. to secure the safe door, which he remembered had been inadvertently left open and met three men leaving the office.

A struggle followed as Riley endeavoured to catch one of the men and Mrs. Riley used the office telephone to call the police. No weapon of a nature likely to inflict the injury by Riley was found by the police.

A small window at the back of the factory had been opened. Apparently the intruders had made use of an old motor-bus parked in a lane at the back of the factory to reach the window. which was in the staff dressing room.