VICIOUS ATTACK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 48, 19 November 1937, Page 5

VICIOUS ATTACK

-Pres« Association.)

Chinese Struck on Head with Iron Bar ASSAILANT ESCAPES

(Bv Talegraph-

CHRISTCHuECH, Last Night. As a prelude, apparently^ to a projected looting of the premiseS, an Uiiknown man vici'ously assattlted Mt Wallingford Ohau, a Chinese- herbalist, at his rooms at 99 Manchester street. Saying that he wanted treatment idt rheumatism, the man waited until Mr Ohan's back was turned, _ wfeen_ he struck him over the head with an iron bar. Mr Ohan grappled with His assailant, who, however, broke away and escaped, leaving behind the weapon, his hat, and a sugar-bag. The assault oceurred in Mr Chan'a consulting .room, opening off tlxe waiting room, 'which fronts on to the street. Mr Ohau was going through some correspondenee when the doCr opened and the man walked xn. He seemed surprised to find the room oecupied. Mr Clian told his visitor that, the staff being absent, he could not attehd to him that evening, and suggesteo. that he should call again On Saturday morning. So saying, ihe walked aerosi to the door to open it. His back wae then to the visitor. As he turned flhe handle, he felt a heavy blow on the top of his head. Pivoting quickly, he received another savage blow on the left temple before he" could grapple with his assailant. Although small and ligpxt, Mr Ohan ig a skilful exponent of jiu-jxtsu. _ He wrested the weapon from hxs assailant and jammed him- into the corner o£ the door. Weakened, however, by loss of blood from the wounds in his head, aUd flxrther hampered by the fact that the back of his coat had caught on tihe door handle, Mr Chan could not maintain hi» grip, and, as Mrs Chan, hearing the * seuffle, entered from the back of the premises by another door, the man broke away. He ran ont of the door by which Mrs Chan had entered, and with her in pursuit uashed down. the corridor and through the waiting-room to the street. > The doctor Who was called to attend to Mr Chan's wounds said that onlyithe faet that ho had an unusually strong akull saved him from concucaion, if nofc death. Two stitches had to be inserted in the wound on tho top of feis head, ^wliere the first blow fell.