Friday December 5^th 1919

Attack on Jewellers Messenger

Boy struck down and robbed

GEORGE HUDGELL

   A messenger boy, names GEORGE HUDGELL*, employed by Mr D Smith, a Canning Town jeweller, was attacked by two men in Upper Charles Street, Clerkenwell, on Wednesday night was struck on the head with an iron bar, and robbed of an attached case containing diamond and sapphire rings, watches, bracelets, and other jewellery to the value of between £300 and £400. The assault was a violent one, the boy being struck several times over the head by one of the men with a large piece of iron measuring about 18 inches until he fell unconscious on the pavement.

   He was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where his injuries were dressed, and he was eventually taken home.

   In conversation yesterday the boy said that before 6 on Wednesday evening he was hurrying through Upper Charles Street, Clerkenwell, to reach a shop where he had to buy a watch dial before they closed. "I had just reached the shop" he said "When I noticed a shadow flit across my path, and a mans voice shouted, 'This is the one who knocked my young brother out,' At the same moment I saw a mans arm raised above my head and a large piece of came down on the top of my head.

   The man continued to strike me several times on the head with the iron, and the blood ran streaming down my face and neck until I could scarcely see. Another man came up and endeavoured to snatch the bag from me, but I held on to it for all I was worth and struggled with the two men, but eventually I fell on the pavement, and I suppose I must have lost consciousness for a few seconds.

   When I came round I saw the two men running off as fast as they could. I got up and gave chase, and three or four men who were sheltering in the doorway out of the rain asked me what was the matter.

   When I told them they joined in the chase through the side streets, but I dropped out; I was so weak from lose of blood. the two men got away. As it happened. I had not a very big stock of jewellery in my bag. Had this affair occurred a week or two previously the men would have got away with about £3,000 worth of jewellery."

   HUDGELL could not give a complete description of his two assailants, but he said they appeared to be about 5ft.8in in height, wore caps, which were drawn well over their eyes, and they had the appearance of having been in the Army. One was wearing khaki trousers.

* signifies not connected to the tree at the moment