BRUTAL ASSAULT

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1046, 14 November 1947, Page 2

BRUTAL ASSAULT

FRUITERER INJURED SAVINGS STOLEN • An unprovoked and brutal assault was made on Willie Icing, Chinese fruiterer & greengrocer, on Tuesday night. The incident occurred some time between 10 and 11,-o’cloek when the premises in Church Street were still open for business. Two men were involved in the attack. The proprietor of the shop was .asked the prices of some vegetables and when he reached, up to get one down he was struck violently on the face and as he fell to the floor his head broke the thick glass on the side of a showcase, inflicting further damage. The intruders immediately closed the street door and pulled a cardigan over their victim’s head and also tied his hands. The premises were then ransacked. The amount of money stolen is not known but as it represented several years savings it must have .run into some hundreds of pounds. A tin containing about £IOO in 10/- notes was somehow' missed by the thieves.

Willie King w'ho had been dragged into the back portion of the shop recovered sufficiently in the early hours of the morning to get out of his bonds and lie struggled along to George King’s shop where the alarm was given to the police.

Willie King suffered a fracture of the jaw and his teeth were so badly knocked about that it was found necessary to remove eleven of them at Mr. Simpson’s dentistry.

The assault is undoubtedly the work of men who broke into several business premises on Monday night including the .Regent Theatre. A car belonging to Mr. A. Nicol had its petrol tank emptied of petrol ou the same night.

A widespread search is being made by the .police for the suspected men and it is hoped that they will be swiftly be brought to justice.