FIVE YEARS' HARD. THE SPREYDON TRAGEDY.

NZ Truth, Issue 127, 23 November 1907, Page 6

FIVE YEARS' HARD.

THE SPREYDON TRAGEDY.

Allison Brought to Book.

A particularly dangerous sort of scoundrel named William Allisefi got his desserts at the Supreme Court, Ohristchurch, when he was brought up for sentence for having broken into the house of George Watterus, Le Creti's terrace, Timaru, and also had attempted to ravish a- young girl who was inside. The lecherous lout admitted the offence m -the lower, court at Timaru. Asked what he had got to say when faced with Judge Chapman, the blackguard had the audacity to ask for probation. He attributed , his action on the date m question to drink— go«tl old drink excuse once again. He was a young man. and wouldn't offend again. His Honor gave the rascal the -length of his tongue when sentencing him. He gave some consideration ijp Allison's youth, but he felt compelled to

TREAT HIM WITH GREAT SEVERITY. In his written statement, which he had handed m, he said t-bat lie wasii'fc under his own control. That was no excuse whatever for the class of crime which, the prisoner had committed. A man who roamed round i isolated cottages on the outskirts lof a town, and who Wasn't under control, wasn't safe to be at large, and should be placed under control. To start with the prisoner had broken into a house. That m itself was a crime. When lie got into the house, lie attempted to violate a young girl whom he found there. That was an offence of the gravest character. That was why h» in.ten.vl-

ed to inflict severe punishment. That sort of thing couldn't be done with impunity: Had it not been for his youth t the sentence would have been greater; he would receive five years.

Who is to Blame?

Some very inelegant remarks have been passed about the authorities since the murder of Mrs r Annabella Wijson, at Spreydbn, by her husband, who is now lying . ail death's door at the . Christchurch Hospital, owing to a perforated lung, self-in-flicted. The local public would like to liang somebody and want to know who is to /Wame ; on whose authority .was the fellow Wilson released from the Asylum, that of Dr. Gow, or the Inspector of Asylums, or the Government generally. The crowd are laying the shocking murder at the feet of the Government, which is held to be responsible. It is safe to say that never m the ' Dominion has a would-be murderer and suicide been released from an asylum after '

ONLY A PEW MONTHS' DETENTION.

It would be thought that no one m their senses would be guilty, of sueh 1 a, hazardous action, but it Was done m this case; and now the authorities of course regret it. So does everybody else. There are more asses among officialdom than most people though fc. The Govertiment should be strictly questioned about this all-im-portant,matter, and when that is being done it might as well be asked if the Department didn't dun Mrs Wilson for the keep of her husband m the asylum, and that as she- couldn't afford to comply they were glad to bundle him out when she applied for him. It. took the unfortunate : deceased all her time . to keep her - little home together ; she went out washins, waitings-did anything for a}crust, m fact, and couldn't comply with the Government's demands.