A DASTARDLY OUTRAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81904, 17 December 1906, Page 2

A DASTARDLY OUTRAGE.

o "SAND-BAGGING" IN CHKISTCHUItCH. TAUANAKI MAN ASSAULTED. Per Press Association. Chriatehurch, December 10. Mr L. 0. Hooker, who hag charge of the Taranaki Court at the International Exhibition, was made' a victim of a dastardly attack by "sand-bag-gers" on Friday night. Mr Hooker was hurrying 'home to his lodgings in the city about 9.3U and proceeding along the avenue towards the Hospital, bridge. ,When about thirty yards past tile museum he was accosted by a thick-set man, who approached him from the i;ear, and enquired the timer Mr Hooker' unbuttoned his overcoat to reach his watch, and as he leaned down to ascertain the desired information the man made a snatch at the clmiu, which broke away from the watch. At the same moment another man stepped up and dealt Mr a heavy blow with a sand-bag. This swung around his neck and struck him on the temple, twisting him oil' his legs and causing him to fall stunned to the ground. When he regained . consciousness, Mr Hooker found that he had his watch still gripped tightly, in his hand, but the silver chain, „pon which was a much-prized medal, was missing. The thieves hud turned out ■M his pockets, except those in his vest (one of which contained a sum of silver), and had- abstracted a £1 note and a small amount of silver from his hip pocket.