SENSATIONAL OCCURRENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13488, 19 May 1917, Page 4

SENSATIONAL OCCURRENCE

ATTACK ON TAXI DRIVER. A sensational occurrence took place on the Hamilton-Cambridge road yesterday, whereby, it is alleged, a taxidriver named Edward Henry Peebles was assaulted and rendered unconscious by a man named Robin Jasper Crago, an escapee from the Waikeria prison near Te Awamutu. About 4 p.m. yesterday the police at Cambridge received a telephone message to the effect that a man had at-; tempted to strangle another man on the road. Constables Farrell and Cleary immediately proceeded to the place named, and foung Crago sitting at the back of a motor-car with five other men standing near by. The driver of the car (Peebles) had his hands lacerated, one nail being torn off. Peebles informed the constables that Crago had engaged him to take him out to Tauwliare in the car. He stopped at the creamery, and Crago went in for a few minutes, after which he asked him to take him on to Cambridge. From there they proceeded towards Hamilton. When about 44 miles along the road Crago said to Peebles "ease her up," and as the car was stopping Peebles felt a string being placed round his neck. The string was tightened, and he was rendered unconscious. The next thing he knew was that he was struggling with Crago on the side of the car. Both then fell on to the road, Crago biting at Peeble's hands meanwhile. During the struggle they separated, and then both stood up. A car came along, driven by a taxi driver named Bolton, and the latter stood by, when another two cars came up, and the police were then communicated with. Crago said that his intention was to render Peebles unconscious, seize his car, and make his escape to Auckland. BEFORE THE COURT. Crago was brought up before Mr Rawson, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning, and charged with assaulting Peebles and with being an escapee from prison. ■ Sergt.-Detective Cooney appeared for the police, and related the circumstances of the case as above. He said that accused was serving a sentence of 10 years for attempted murder at Auckland, and escaped from the Waikirea prison on May 18th last. Further charges were pending. A remand was granted for a week. Crago was the chief actor in a sensational motor-car affair at Devonport, Auckland, some four years ago, when a revolver was used in an attempt to steal the car, and he was on that occasion sentenced to 10 years' reformative treatment.