Savage Assault on a Constable.

Manawatu Herald, 9 May 1899, Page 2

Savage Assault on a Constable.

A serioug a93ault by a convict on a constable occurred at the Mount Cook Prison worka yesterday morning, says Saturday's Times. It up-

pears that shortly before eight o'clock one of the warders saw a man going; up the hill, evidently with the ob« ject of planting some articles for one of bio friends among the prisoners. He gave chase, but the man buoceeded in getting away, and the warder then went to MountJ Cook Police Station and asked Sergeant Briggc to send a constable up to the works. Constable Cassin was deputed for the purpo3e, and he quickly secured the " plant," which consisted of seven or sight sticks of tobacco* two pipes, matches, a letter, and copies of " Australasian " and Bulletin." By this time the convicti were beginning to arrive on the ground, and Constable Cassin, with the " plant " concealed under hie coat, and his bands in his pockets, stood by the warder watching tho ganga as they came along. As one gang of ten men arrived □ear the place where the constable/ ' and warder were standing, one of them a convict named Joseph Fogaa stepped. out of the ranks and advanced towards them. Cassin, thinking Fogan was merely about to adress the warder on some business took no notice, and did not shift bis position. -As Fogan got close by, bC suddenly raised a long : handled shovel he was carrying, and exclaiming, " What do you want up here ?" aimed a vicious blow at the constable. The blow caught Cassin on the front part of the top of the head and he fell senseless to the ground. Fogan raised the shovel again, but he was immediately pounced upon by two warders. The ugly weapon was wrested from him, and he was marched back to the Terrace gaol.

Constable Cassin was removed aa speedily as possible to the Mount Cook Police Station, where his in* juries were attended to by the police surgeon (Dr Teare). It was found that he had received a severe scalp wound, and the force with which the blow had been struck was proved by the fact that the rivet on the back of th3 shovel had left its mark on the injured man's forehead. Later in the day Fogan came be* fore Mr Kenny, S.M , and Messrs A. Collins and E. Arnold, Justices, on a charge of having assaulted Constable Caasin.

Inspector Pender said the con» stable was in attendance, but Dr Teare was not satisfied with his condition, and he therefore asked the bench to remand the case.

Mr Eenny said he was afraid he would have to make the charge in* dictable one. Ho would grant an /? adjournment: to the 12 instant. Pogan, who appeared qnite unconcerned when placed in the dock, has an unenviable record. He was serving sentence of four 'yeara for house-breaking at Napier, three years for housp. breaking at Ofcaki, and two years for gaoUbreaking — all cumulative. The last sentence was imposed upon him for escaping- from the Terrace gaol about three years ago, on which occasion he evaded capture for some months.

When the warder Was unable to capture lbs man who was supposed to have secreted the p'ant, the mat. ter was reported to the police, and Detective Cox was deputed to make inquiries. L?sa than three hoars later he succeeded in arresting a man named Alfred Golder, who will be brought up at the Magistrate's Court; this morning.