BRUTAL ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2651, 27 October 1923, Page 2

BRUTAL ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

ARAMOHO STOREKEEPER AND WIFE THE VICTIMS. ' SEARCH FOR THE ASSAILANT. Wanganui, Last Night. Robbery was apparently the motive for a dastardly crime that was committed at Aramoho at about 11 o’clock this evening. Owing to the low condition of the victims, exact details of the sensational occurrence were not ascertainable, hut the story, as pieced together by the police, is that Mr W. R. Oates, storekeeper, of Aramoho, looked up his shop at the hour named, having in his possession about £IOO, the takings of the business. As he approached the back door of his residence, which is not far from his business'premises, he was felled by a blow on the head from an iron bar, delivered with such violence that he was immediately knocked senseless. Later on recovering consciousness he called his wife, hut. was not answered, so summoning the help of a neighbour, he entered the house, where a fearful sight met their gaze. Mrs Oates lay on the floor with her bead battered in, lying in a pool of blood. She now lies in Wanganui Hospital in a critical condition. Apparently, after having dealt with Mr Oates, the man entered the house and attacked Mrs Oates. The money Mr Oates had in his possession was taken from him, but he is nimble to give any description of his assailant, for whom the police are scouring the neighbourhood.

Mr and Mrs W. Oates, of Palmerston NoVth, who are relatives of the victims, left by car for Wanganui at about midnight, having been urgently summoned on their distressitig errand.