COWARDLY ASSAULT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1207, 16 August 1911, Page 4

COWARDLY ASSAULT.

TERRITORIAL NON-COM. WAYLAID. What has been described as "a cownrdly assault by organised hooligans" occurred at Pptono last Sunday night week, when Sergeant-Major Millott, the area, sergeant-major in charge of the Hutt and Pctono military sub-district, was waylaidby a party of youths and so severely handled that ho is now lying at a private hospital slowlv recovering from tho effect? of ,the injuries inflicted upon him. > From inquiries made by a representative' of The Dominion, it appears that Sergeant-Major Millett was proceeding from Petone to tho Hutt on the evening in question—he was not in uniform at the time—when ho was accosted by a party of half a dozen youths and treated to some insulting remarks on tho subject of h:s connection with tho compulsory military training movement.' The end of the . affair was that he was suddenly set upon by tho gang, and bru-tally assaulted. Ono of the injuries received by the victim of the outrage was apparent ly, inflicted by some sharp instrument—a piece of wood with a. rusty nail ill it, so it is hazarded —for the sergeant sustained a severo cut on tho breast. y The roughs then decamped, leaving their victim lying on the road. He mado tho best of his wav home. After a fewdays the wound in tho chest became painful, and Dr. Elliott was consulted, Tho doctor detected symptoms of blood-poison-ing, and at once ordered his removal to a private hospital. Tho matter was .reported to headquarters, and subsequently a complaint was forwarded to the police authorities, who are now investigating the case. ' In reply to inquiries at the private hospital where tho sergennt-major is now lying, the reporter was informed that tho patient was progressing favourably, his temperature having sensibly diminished.