ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 63, 4 March 1908, Page 4

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.

i iir ji->ii-.-e an n.j>\ im eiiigaling a -Ijillijjc n purl,'il to v.on"j( iUic jv; an. id Miatnn ii_. oil biuHia/.. -a,) a l«ie J'u-t. i'j'um wual c.tn l»r gaiiiend, il appeals Dial uu Satin day last Mr. James iMnpv'\. Jamie l ;, residing near Kob>on's null .it J oku, wai iu ,SiiatU>rd and ciiangvd, twj cheijue*. After obtaining cnange lu paid over aoino money to certain niends wliu were with him in a hotel, and uu leaving town ior his liime about o'clock had a considerable sum ol money in his possession. .Mr. had reached ihe loot of Jack-un's jli|| } when a man came alongside and asked for a lilt. Dempsey said ''Ail right."' and the man got into the cart and sal on a bag beside him. After a whilethe stranger said: "Pull up, my nmte'j behind; you can give him a lilt, too." Dempsey says lie became suspicious and remarked: "1 know your game. Vou had better get out and go back tu your mate." The man then seized' IJeinpsey by the throat, and a violent struggle followed, the two men closing on the floor of the vehicle. While this was going on another man came running up and was in the act of getting into the cart when Dempsev lashed out willi hn foot, catching the intruder in neck or face and knocking him oil' the cart half-stunned. Still struggling with his lirst assailant, Dompsey managed to lay hands oil a couple of tins of preserved meat, and with these lie battered the other man about the head with Mich >uccess that he was able to knocK him overboard, and drive on as fast a* possible to Toko. On Sunday morning he laid the full particulars before Constable Ryan. Dempsev says two men un cycles passed him at Skinner road, going towards Toko, a little before the lirst of his assailants asked for a lift. The hard blows lie dealt are likely to have indicted damage on the would-be robbers' faces. The man who trot into Mr. I)emp«ey*s cart is "described as about flu years of age. Jive feet eight or nine inches in height, stiffly built, dark eninplexinned, and with dark moustache. lie aNo wore dark clothing. a lightish <i.ft fell hat. soft while -hirt and dark tie. Mr. Denipsey said he rnuhl not describe the other man e\iep| thai ho won- dark clothe?, ami appeared to be bigger than the man who •rot into the cart. As Dempspy was known to have a sum of money robbery with violence was the supposed plan of ihe atiai-kers. It is highly probable; tlnl fhr big gathering of la«t week in New Plymouth attracted some undesirable-. who are now scattering abroad on depredation bent. Settlers would therefore do well to lie careful.