ATTEMPT TO MURDER A WARDER.

Evening Star, Issue 3423, 10 February 1874, Page 3

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A WARDER.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Hokitika, on the 57th, Isaac Levi, a prisoner in the Hokitika Gaol, was charged with attempting to murder Robert Fergusson, a warder. The following evidence was given : —Robert Fergusson ; 1 am overseer of prison work, I was out in charge of the hard labor gang at the back of the gaol. Warder Kidd was also present. There were seven prisoners in the gang, including the prisoner Levi, who was cutting wood. Levi had an axe, and he complained that the axe he was using was not sharp He said I had given his axe to another prisoner and that I had no right to do so. I said that if the prisoner did not conduct himself I would send him to the gaol ; prisoner said I could do so and be d d to me. I then told him to go to the gaol and leave the axe. Levi said he would not leave the axe, but would keep it to show the Visiting Justices. I tried to get the axe when Levi raised it over his head, and «*rid’ “ I will knock your d d head off.” He then struck at me with the axe. I was about two feet from him. He paused for a moment, turned the axe in his hands and struck at me with all his foree. I stepped on one side, the head of the axe passed over my shoulder, and the handle of the axe struck me on the left shoulder. He aimed at my 1 head. X then knocked him down with my

hand, and took the axe from him. When on the ground he caught me by the beard, and tore the skin off my face. He said, “you ‘ —; I will axe you yet.” When the prisoner was turning the axe, he was turning the edge away from me. He struck with the back of it.—Prisoner was committed for trial.