HIGHWAY OUTRAGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 249, 15 July 1919, Page 5

HIGHWAY OUTRAGE

MOTOR-CYCLE DICK TLRPINS SENSATIONAL ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE . ißy Telegraph-Special Correspondent.' Palmerston North, July 14. A sensational robbery with violence has been reported to the police at Palinerston North, the victim being a well-known Levin resident. It appears that at about twenty minutes past 6 on Saturday evening a Palmerston North business man and his- son were motoring through from Levin '- 0 Palmerston by way of Foxtoiv. When just past tho racecourse at l'oxton they met another motor-car going in the opposite direction towards Levin. The occupants of this ear hailed them in passing and they accordingly stopped. One of tho men got out of the car and informed tuo two Palmerston North residents that a little bit further up the road they would find a man who had been robbed and assaulted. At tho same time lie explained that they had been unable to pick him up as the car in which his party was travelling was .carrying the mails to Levin and it 1 was full up. In the circumstances tli© hvo geiitloiuen from Pfu* nlerston North wasted no time in resuming their journov. About two miles further up the road, in the Himitangi district, they came across a man lying on. the footboard of a motor-car in a semiunconscious condition, covered with blood, and presenting a very battered ' appearance. ' The irijured man, who was in a helpless condition I ,;'' turned out to be Mr. G. Waisori, at one'time well known in Weilihgton athletic circles and ex-chairman of the County, Council at Levin. ' Mr. Watson "disclosed- the fact that he luid been made the victim of an amazing outrage. He had 'left Palmerston North at 3.30 p.m. that day on his return journey home. While still on the Palmerston .North side of Foxton, about Himitangi. his.car developed engine trouble on account on it becoming over-heated. • He pulled up on the road, and was endeavouring to remedy the trouble when two men riding, one behind the other on a motor cycle rode up from behind. They stopped alongside of him, and one of them asked, "What is the matter, old man?" Mr. Watson, explained the nature of his trouble, and thev volunteered assistance, which he naturally accepted. They could.not 6uocoed in getting the car to start, and while Mi'. Watson was bending down over the engine he received a severe blow on the head from some unknown quarter. Ha immediately looked ■up, and at_ the same instant one of the two men hit him a severe blow between the eyes rendering him unconscious. When he came to his senses he found himself' bleeding profusely and minus his watch and ,£ls in c-ash.i His two assailants were nowhere to be seen. The two Palmerston North gentlemen conveyed Mr. Watson to Palmerston, where he received medical attention. Subsequently they motored him to his home at Levin, where he now l'es suffering from a broken nose, a cut on' his head, two badly bruised eyes, and slight concussion.

Mr. Watson's story as to his assailants is verified in one important particular by the two Palmerston North residents referred to. It appears that a short timq before they were hailed by the occupants of the mail car, they were nearly run into by two men on a mqtor cycle, travelling at the rate of about 40 miles' an hour, and going in tho direction of Levin. They 6iirmise that this was within half an hour of the assault and robbery, tallies with the account of the affair given by. Mr. Watson. Incidentally, Mr. Watson statea that while the two men were .strangers 'to him, he i? of the opinion that he' would recognise one of them if lie saw him again.