Brutal Assault in Napier.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 304, 28 May 1889, Page 3

Brutal Assault in Napier.

The following is an account of the brutal assault which recently occurred in Napier, and for which two men have been arrested , Between the hours of 12 and 1 on Friday morning Dr Moore was violently assaulted by six or seven men near Mr Russell’s store on the Shakespeare road. Dr Moore had been to visit a sick person residing on the hills, and was returning home, When turning into Shakspeare rpad from the bottom of the Cobden road he noticed a gang of men, six or seven in number, coming down the hill from the direction of town. They appeared to be under the influence of drink, as they were talking rather boisteriously. When they reached the doctor he attempted to get past them by going well out into the road, out upon seeing this the men spread themselves across the road, and began to hustle him. One man, a stoutly-made fellow, struck at Dr Moore, and attempted to throw him down. He defended himself as well as he was able, but being encumbered by a long overcoat, and some of the other men also assaulting him, he fared badly, being struck from behind and knocked into the gutter. While down he received several kicks, but at thia stage one of the men interfered and said it was not fair to hit a man when he was down, Dr Moore then got up, and was again struck and kicked. Fearing greater violence he tried to run away, at the same time calling loudly for help, bpt tripping over his long overcoat ho fell, and while op the ground was again struck and kicked. Upon struggling th Ms fegt the doctor made another run, and reaching the gate of his residence rushed in and slammed the gate after him, som® o the men coming right up to the gate. Th doctor’s groom was roused to go for th police, but on getting to the front gate wa afraid to go out, the doctor’s assailants being congregated there, and he had to make his way out by an epeming in the side fence of the grounds in order to reach the Shakespeareroad. Constable Barry was found, and after going to the doctor’s house and getting ■ particulars of the assault, startadpff to. the Spit to see if he could find any traces of the men.