STRUCK WITH SANDBAG.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1922, Page 4

STRUCK WITH SANDBAG.

ATTACK ON HOTEL GUEST. YOUNG MAN ADMITS CRIME. WANTS TO GET MARRIED. B, Telefc-r«l»h.—Freaa Asaocl.tlon. Dunedin, Last Night. An outcome of the Grand Hotel episode, in which a racehorse-owner, Mr. Win.’ Henry Ballinger, waa struck on the head while asleep in hie bedroom, a young man named Vivian Jones was arrested and charged, this morning, with breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. Mr. Ballinger, when he retired to bed on Wednesday night, found the key of his room missing. He was awakened at 2.30 a.m. by a blow with a sandbag. He jumped out of bed, colliding with & person, who escaped down the fire escape. A detective found the key of the room in accused’s pocket. Accused stated h< had gone to the Grand Hotel in the evening and had taken the key from a room in the upper storey. Returning early in the morning, he entered tlie room, and the man in bed woke up ana accused struck him jwith a sock filled with soil. Accused pleaded guilty. The chief detective stated accused was not long out from the Borstal Institute, where he was committed for breaking and entering at Wellington. After pleading, accused expressed a desire for bail, stating that he wished to get married. He was committed for sentence and bail was refused.