THREW VITRIOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

THREW VITRIOL.

ASSAULT ON FRIEND,

BY REMARKS

An extraordinary story of a Glasgow lamplighter, who threw vitriol at a friend who had annoyed him by references to his facial appearance was told at the Glasgow Sheriff Court. Joseph Dickson, Catherine Place, was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. Dickson pleaded guilty to the charge of having at Catherine Place, Glasgow, assaulted James Thomson, Hydepark Street, and thrown at him a quantity of vitriol or other corrosive acid, whereby he was severely burned on the face and permanently disfigured. Procurator-Fiscal J. D. Strathern stated that the accused was 33 and unmarried. The position, the Fiscal said, was -unusual. Thomson and the accused had been on terms of great friendship for a considerable period. Some time ago Thomson's employer received certain letters which purported to come from a young woman, and they represented that Thomson had been keeping company with the woman, and that he had taken advantage of her and treated her badly. The employer was on the point of dismissing the man, when he thought better of it, as he was doubtful of the authenticity of the statements contained in the letter. Thomson worked in a bread factory, andhad to go out early in the morning, while the accused was u lamplighter and he also had to go out early. Thomson was a regular visitor to the accused's house, and he had a key for the purpose of going there early in the morning and awakening Dickson for bis work. Thomson had entered the right of way at Catherine Place, when a quantity of liquid was thrown at him. The liquid fell on his face and hand, and he felt £hem "going on fire." At the same time a woman's coat was thrown over his head. Thomson saw no person and heard no one hurrying away. He suffered intense pain and rushed out and attracted the attention of a policeman. They went back to the accused's house and Dickson was in bed, apparently asleep. The Fiscal described it as a wicked assault, the complainer having been permanently disfigured. One of has ears was miss-shaped as a result. Careful inquiry was made by the police and as a result the authorities were of the opinion "that Dickson was" not unconnected with the writing of the letters. The Fiscal alleged that the letters were written by male friends, of the accused to his dictation, while the letters were dispatched by him. Dickson had purchased vitriol from a chemist aibout a fortnight prior to the assault. Sheriff Robertson remarked that it was a wonder that Thomson's, eyes were not burned out. The Fiscal said that Thomson's clothes were practically burned off him. An agent on behalf of the accused man said he did the act on the spur of the moment.