BOUND AND GAGGED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 December 1931, Page 5

BOUND AND GAGGED

(Press. Assn.-

importer'S ORDEAL ASSAULTED BY ROBBERS WHO LOOT JEWELLERY STOCKS SENSATION IN WELLINGTON

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

WELLINGTON, last night. Assaulted, bound asld gagged, Mr. P. Isaacs, a well-ktxoxvn importer, lay belpless for several Ixouf s on tbe floor of bss warehouse ili -tbe city tbis afternoon wbile bis " assailants made off with a qnantity of jewellery. Mr. Isaac's, who is 77 years of age, was in a bad way when fonnd. His store is on the ground floor of concrete buildings, owned by Messrs J. Myers and Co., at the corner of Featherstone and Hunter Streets. Mr Isaac is an importer of fancy goods, jewellery, watches and Ceylon tea. He had no assistanee and was in the habit Of closing his shop for lunch until 2.15 p.m. At about 2.30 p.m. a man entered and began pricing some goods. Another man, it is alleged, then pushed in and joined him. Mr. Isaacs was pummelled by their fists, seized, gagged ard^bound. The robbers trussed him by tying his hands in front of him with string and very light rope and bound his mouth with pieces of towelling which they passed in . front of his face..They when went booty of diamond rings and ladies watches. Mr. Isaacs does not think they went to the safe, which was unlocked alongside him. Having .satisfied themselves that they had got all that they required, the men then made their exit, slamming the doors behind them. On the door they left a notice "Back at 4 o'clock." By steady efforts Mr. Isaacs was able to shift the gag from his mouth. He called out for a ver^ long time, but traffie prevented his cries from being heard. At '6 o'clock Mr McGregor, manager of W.D. and H.O. Wills, heard his cries and going to the door of his shop f ound it shut. He then met Mr. R. Read, secretary to Messrs Myers and Co., and told him that Isaacs was locked in. Mr. Read climbed on to the sill of the frosted and barred window, and on looking through saw Mr. Isaacs lying on the floor at the bend of the counter. A police sergeant and constable soon arrived and forced the door. Isaacs was bruised about the face, where he had been struck by his assailants. Although very weak, he was able to tell a little about the ordeal through which he had passed.