A MASKED ROBBER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 138, 9 December 1930, Page 16

A MASKED ROBBER

RANSACKS HOUSE

OWNER STRUCK AND BOUND

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evcnina Post.") AUCKLAND, Sth December. Iv sensational circumstances, the residence of Mr. Mourin, at Mataraua, about five miles from Kaikolic, was forcibly catered on Saturday evening. Mrs. Mourin and licr two sons were iv Kaikolic, and Mr. Mourin was alone in the liousei About 9 o'clock Mr. Mourin heard a tap at the back door. He took no notice of it, but about two seconds later ho heard a loud knock, and taking a benzine lamp, he went to the door. On opening it widely so as to stop on to tho porch, a man dressed in working clothes and with a •handkerchief tied over his face, stepped forward and struck him a blow with a hammer on the head, rendering him unconscious. It was some time before Mr. Mourin recovered consciousness, and when he did so he found his hands tied with rope, but not so securely as to prevent him loo^ ning them. He heard the intruder ransacking the house, so he went tg a shed and found a gun, but.could find no ammunition. Mr. Mourin returned to the front of the house, and the burglar, emerging at that moment, caught sight of him anil re-entered the house. Mr. Mourin walked about two miles for assistance, and when he and his companions returned the burglar had departed, taking with him between £i! 0 and £30 in cash. He had ransacked the house, smashing crockery aw'd breaking open and considerably damaging several trunks whicli conI tamed clothing, the contents being scattered in all directions. Mr. Mourin lias apparently suffered no ill:cffccts from his experience.