HIGHWAI MEN?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 737, 9 February 1910, Page 5

HIGHWAI MEN?

BANK OFFICERS SHOT At WOUNDED. (By Teleeraph.-Prees AseoclationJ Hamilton, February 8. ' Word has been received in Hamilton that a bank clerk from■ a local bank,, while proceeding to tho Ohaupo Btode' salo with a bag of money, was crossing Mystery Creek, when he was fired at from. a clump of ti-tree, receiving a charge of shot full in tho faco.

Particulars of tho~t'hooting showvthat,' ''■3 ; 1 Mr. W. L. Ward, manager of tho Hamil-: i~' ;Vj ton i branch of the Bank of /Australasia,;' ■ ■<■;■;,'■'s and;. Mr. Xcslio Jordan,. ledger-keeper of' .' : i'-' : tho Bunk; of New Zealand, were, driving '.. }■ :,;:,] together in a buggy.' to Ohanpo, where; : '■■■'■:i' : l] the respective banks have : receiving i'ot-'-'':'%■'! fices, it.being'customary-for the omcialfl. -&1? to go to Ohaupo;on Tuesday.each' week,' : v't-" : carrying with-.them sums of money.' Mr.'■■'■'■■.■>; Ward Trasdriving, and when' 'in" the dip-' i;'« of the road at what i 6 locaUyknbwn Mystery Creek.(approached.on either by'a wmewhat steep rise), the teport v ; -, : >! 0 a gun rang out, presumably from a clump ■'.;"•••'' tK i ,ot bushes on the left;side.': ,This>.-wae:v.:-'r&i ;about li o'clock. Mt. Jordan received,*' ';SA| charge' of shot.in the side of the'.faoe^Si -)u# neck,: arm, and chest, and .fell ;pver.,' 'sitA? against Mr. !Ward, .bleeding : :; ,-;'2 The horse'iminediatoly'ran awayj'but;therir driver, succeeded in quietEnirig 'it; ;' Hβ ! : •::;;¥« then drew a- revolver,,/which: he, :/ alwaya 7i;S; : .; carried on the trip',' .and looked' around ;.;'•■' 'ji : : f>r evidence; of _the of the": shotv^' but none was to be seen, the 'absence'.of : . -V'VJ smoke,, making:.it that', ;v.■■■::;■ powder had been, used..' Mr. '■. Ward, then drove .to., the nearest.:house,;'where : aid, was ;'. to' !; Mr .; jordani and ;i;i;;h; ''? then-the latter [ytpe driven to.the Waikato; ■' -v,r{'; . Hospital, where.;he; now lies.,^v/ i iCi-:;;^ ;Thero eeeme ; to be; little/doubt, that ''fix. .V ; ;';'| deliberate.attempt has been;made at'hijt. : *tS" ; /f; :way, robbery, and the; wonder is that: men were, not killed outright./ Mr. \Ward Q : miraculously /escaped Without/a' ! scratchi7,V«: '.&. although he felt: the concussion of the air is.- the: shots struck' : Mr. Jordan;'. The. ",: v : : latter,, who'is 2G. years of age, has. been ir.i.': connected',.witb the Hamilton':branch'-'of;,/£ : ;■>'■ V the' Bank- of New Zealand, for' about years.' , His injuries, are "not - serious, al-.' V: ?K ; ii though.-he )was' literally tho;shot tfith :\rhich the'gun .was-loaded^v'£, !» Portunately/'his aU' though'the; force, of ,the,shot.blew a; false;!;-;-i: teeth out'of-his mouth. /C-'^i"^^^

',■: Police and'. oiyilians -aro.; now.;■ scouriag- - the; country. ;' ; ;':;-!. : - 'V'■■■'..;;■;/;: -^r^ti.: