A SAVAGE ATTACK.
. OX A SHIFT " DOSS." SENSATIONAL AFFAIR. Auckland, February 14. A sensational affair is reported from Karangahakc by the Star's Waihi correspondent. The message states that on Wednesday evening, shortly after nine o'clock, W. L. Dutton, a prominent member and treasurer of tiie new union, and recently appointed to the position of shift boss at the Talisman mine at Karangahakc. was stuck up by three men when on his way to the mine on horseback. He only escaped by drawing his revolver, after being struck 011 the back with a piece of road metal, which had been hurled with some force. A reporter Mailed upon Mr. Dutton, and lie gave his account of the affair. lie slated that lie left his home in Galbraith street 011 horseback about 7 p.m. 011 the j'l vious day. earlier than usual, intending to have some rest at the n'ine before going 011 duty. It was about 0 o'clock when he crossed the bridge up Scotchman's Gully, Karangahakc. About ten njinutes later, when he was on the cart road at the back of Mr. Stanlield's place,, he was suddenly stuck up by three men, • who commenced to throw road metal'at him. One piece struck hinl below the left shoulder blade. The men were Spread out about four yards apart, but oWing to the darkness he could not see tljcir features, lie noticed, however, that one of the three was a tall man. and tliat another had a coat 011. but 110 vest. ! One of his assailants took up a position abreast of him. another at the rear. :\nd the third ahead and in front of hH horse. After -being struck 'With the refnd metal, the man abreast of him moved towards the horse's head as if to seize the reins. He thought'that it was then high time to do something to protect lymself from further, and, very possibly, serious injury, as it was quite evident that his assailants fully intended to "man-handle" him. lie thereupon called out to the man, as the latter moved towarjds the horse's head: "You do, and I'll shoot." at the same time drawing his revolver. The threat had the desired ;effect, and the man drew back, stumbling as he did so. and falling oil the ground. The man ahead also fell back. Seeing his way clear, Mr. Dutton then iiirged on his horse, and galloped away.- reaching the mine in safety. • In pnswer to a further question. Mr. Dutton said that not a word was spoken by his assailants. The affair took place about 41)0 yards from the mine, the scrub 011 the side of the road affording a'gt>od ! hiding-place. Though he could not absolutely recognise either of the throe lr.en.'he had his suspicions, especially ill regard tu one. Taking all the circumitanees'together. Mr. Dutton said that, had f!i' mail .-<-izfd bis horse's head, he would have fired without hesitation. '
A press ivprescii! iliv« exam inoil the inflicted by a piece of road metal. <■:> (lie fleshy part of Mr. I.'litton's Mck. !i.;d the -tone struck him on the head there is not the doubt that the would have been knocked senseless.
It transpires that Mr. Dutton, sintie assuming his duties as <hnt b.or.'J at, tlie mine 1 on Monday ui»ht threatened bv a certain individual. It is understood that arrangements were made for a police escort to accompany Mr. Dutton to his work last evening. Knrantralmke f.orpre, ami the" road leadin" to the Talismine mine, afford excellent vover for those with ulterior motives'in the matter of \v:u layitijr a:iperSOli.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19130218.2.55
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 231, 18 February 1913, Page 6
Word count
Tapeke kupu
592A SAVAGE ATTACK. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 231, 18 February 1913, Page 6
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Taranaki Daily News. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.