SAVAGE ATTACK ON A SHIFT "BOSS."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1675, 15 February 1913, Page 6

SAVAGE ATTACK ON A SHIFT "BOSS."

SENSATIONAL AFFAIR. ON LONELY ROAD AT NIGHT, MISSILES V. REVOLVER. (By Ttlfgraph.— BdoolaJ Correspondent.) Auckland, Fobruary H. A sensational affair id reported from Kanangnhako by tho "Star's" Waihi correspondent. The message states that on . Wednesday evening shortly after nine o'clock, W. L. Button, a prominent member and treasurer of tho new union, and recently appointed to tho position of shift boss of tho Talisman niino at Karangahako, was stuck up by three men when on his' way to tho niino on horseback. Ho only escaped by drawing hiA revolver, after being struck on the back with e, pieco of road metal, which, had been hurled with 6ome foroo. ' ', A reporter waited upon Mr. Dutton, and ho gave his account of tho affair. Ho stated ho left his homo ia Galbraitli, Street on horseback about 7 p.m. on tho. previous day, earlior than usual, intend-' ing to hare some rest at tho mino before, going on duty. It was about 9 o'clock ' when, ho crossed the bridge up Scotch, man's Gully, Karangahake. About ten, minutes' later, when ho was on the cart, road at the back of Mr. Stansflcld'e place,, ho was suddenly 6tuck up by throe men, who (commenced to throw road metal at, him. One piece struck him bolow tho left shoulder blade. Tho men were spread out about four yards apart, but owing to the darkness ho could not 6ee their fcaptures. Kt noticed, howevor, that ono o£i the three was a till man, and that another had a ooat on, but no vest. Ono of his assailants took up a position abreast of him, another at the rear, and: tho third ahead and in front of his horse. After being 6truok with the road metal,, the man abreast of him moved towards the horse's head as if to seizo the reins. Ha : thought that it was .then high time to do oomothing to protect himself from further and, very possibly, serious injury, as it v*s quite evident that his assailantsfully intended to "man-handle" him. Ho thereupon called out to tho man; os the; latter moved towards the horso's heads "You d<l and I'll shoot," nt tho same tim.l drawing his revolver. Tho threat had tnos.desirod effect, and tho man drew back,' stumbling as he did bo, end fallimj on tho ground; Tho man ahead also fell back, setting his ,way clear. Mr. Dut-/ ton thon>urgcd'oh his horse, and gallop-, ed away, reaching the mino in safety. In answer to a further question Mr. Dntton saw that not a word was spoken by his assailant. The affair , took place about 400 yards from the mine, tho 6crub, on tbe side of tho road affording a good hi&ing-placo, Though' ho could not absolutely recognise either of tho three men.' ho had his suspicions, especially In regard.to ono. Taking oil the circumstances to-i gether Mr. Dutton-said- that, had the: man coized hi? horse's head, ho wouldi have fired without hesitation.

A pTess representative examined. th«' bruiso inflicted by a piece of road metal, on the fleshy part of Mr. Dutton's back.' Had the stone struck him. on tho head! there is not the slightest doubt that he' would have been knocked senseless.

It transpires that Mr. Dntton, since' assuming his duties as shift boss'at the mino on Monday night last, has boon threatened by. a certain individual. ' It is understood that arrangements' were made for a police escort to accompany 'Mr; 1 ' Dntton to nis work Inst evening. Knrangahako Gorgo, and the road leading to tho Talisman Mine afford excellent cover for those with ulterior motives in th« matter of waylaying a person. .'