SAVAGE ASSAULT

Evening Star, Issue 20060, 28 December 1928, Page 9

SAVAGE ASSAULT

[Pek United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 137. A brutal asault by four men in a motor ear upon two visitors Auckland near the entrance to the Ellcrshe racecourse in the early hours of tins morning was responsible tor the delimit of A. W. Smithson, of Canterbury, in the men’s singles of the New Zealand lawn tennis championship meeting today. He was one of the victims ol the assault, and is suffering from shock and bruises. K. Welsh, of Hamilton, ieceivecl a bad cut on the head, and is also suffering from shock. Smithson and Welsh were walking home, when a motor pulled up near them. The car contained four men, who appeared to he under the influence of liquor. One man asked the visitors to jump in and have a drink, 'they refused, and thereupon the men in the car jumped out and began to attack them wildly. Smithson and Welsh managed to get free, and ran through the entrance to the racecourse toward the house of Mr A. C. Hill, racecourse manager. Welsh was apparently overtaken, and was struck by one of his assailants, and when (ailing he struck his head on the kerbiug. At this stage the assailants evidently realised they had gone too far, as they made off. The visitors managed to reach Mr Hill’s house, and Mr Hill rendered first aid. Later the victims of the assault were able to proceed home.