BANK CLERK SHOT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 232, 9 February 1910, Page 2

BANK CLERK SHOT.

Sensational Attack

What was apparenttly a deliberate attempt at bushranging was made on theOhaupo road yesterday morning. Each Tuesday it is the custom of officers of (he Dank of New Zealand and Dank of Australasia to proceed from Hamilton to Ohaupo, and the branches there for the day. In pursuance of thin custom, Mr. Ward, manager of the Dank of Australasia, and Mr. Jordan, clerk to the Bank of New Zealand, left Hamilton about 10 o'clock in a single buggy. Mr. Ward was driving.

They had proceeded about eight miles, when, in a deep gully called "Mystery Creek," they were fired at with a shot gun try someone concealed.

Mr Jordan was hit all over the body, but Mr. Ward escaped unhurt. At the shot the horse bolted, and when it was pulled up Mr. Ward immediately drove <o Hamilton, and left Mr Jordan at the hospital, where he is being attended to. The full extent of his injuries has not yet been ascertained.

Interviewed, Mr. Ward stated that they had just commenced to walk up the hill by Mystery Creek, and had gone about twenty yards. When opposite a big clump of fern at the end of a post and wire fence the gun was fired, Mr. Jordan being struck on the left side from about the level of the nose to the elbow. Mr. Ward himself was deafened by the report, but was not struck by the shot. When the gun was fired, the horse bounded off, and Mr Jordan fell over on his companion. On regaining control of his horse, Mr. Ward pulled up and drew his revolver, but could see nobody,' nor could he see any sign

of smoke. He then drove to Mr. Pcnnikct's residence, where Mr. Jordan's wounds were attended to as well as possible, and, accompanied by a neighbouring farmer, Mr. Urquhart, Mr. Ward returned to Hamilton, leaving the injured man at the Hospital, where his wounds were dressed by Dr. Douglas. The force of the shot, seems to have struck him between the shoulder and chin, and he is considerably knocked about, but it is not thought that his injuries will be serious apart from shock.

The police have gone, out to seour the country in search of the highwayman.

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.

Hamilton, To-day

The police arc actively searching for the miscreant, some ten constables being at work all over the district. It is rumoured that the attack waß the work of a lunatic, who had been wandering about Ohuupo, but there is a growing feeling that the affair was an accident, caused by a man shooting rabbits. A detective arrived from Auckland to-day, and is investigating.