Desperate Attack on two Auckland Drapers.

Manawatu Herald, 27 July 1897, Page 3

Desperate Attack on two Auckland Drapers.

■*» At about 11 o'clock on Saturday night an outrage took place in the grounds of the private residence of Mr F. J. Bennett, draper, at Ded-wood-terraoe, Ponsonby. Mr Bennett and Mr J. R. Self, drapers, were returning home from business in company when they were attacked by four men. Mr Bennett's house lies back. some distance, and the path on each _ide is planted with shrubs. After entering the gate, as usual Mr Bennett closed and fastened it. Means while Mr Self, who was a couple of paces in advance, heard a twig crack, which put him on his guard. When Messrs Bennett and Sell were about 20yds from the former's front door the four men stepped out, two on each side of the path, and one them aimed a blow at Mr Bennett, which inflicted a nasty wound on his head, just behind the right ear. Another of the men aimed a blow at Mr Self with an iron implement (subsequently ascertained to be the handle of a frying pan), but missed him, and Mr Self struck his assail aot with a walking stick whioh he was carrying, and brought him to his knees, but he sprang up and with the other men ran away. In clambouring over the gate the robbers dropped a handbag. It is conjectured that their object was to rob Mr Bennett, in tbe belief that he brought the Saturday night tak ings of vie business home with him Recent burglaries and safe robberies here seem to show that a dangerous gang is operating in the city and tuburbs.— Press Association.