BURNHAM BOY IN COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 63, 10 November 1914, Page 8

BURNHAM BOY IN COURT.

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

IPkk Pbkks Association.]

Timaru, November 9

A youth of 17, named Birch, alias Palmer, who absconded from Burnham on August 9, was to-day remanded on a charge of attempting to murder J as. O'Counoll, a single man, 213 years of age, a dairy farmer at (Jlandeboyo. Accused, an innocentlooking youth, had been in O'Coilucll's employ for about a fortnight. On Sunday morning, a neighbor called at O'Connell's and found him in a dazed condition, milking a cow, but not knowing what he was doing. He had a wound in his head, which he did not know how he had come by. In the house the neighbor found a pillow and bed saturated with blood, and Birch missing, together with his employer's horse, trap, overcoat, cheque-book, watch and chain and loose cash. Information was sent to the police, and by description of the horse and trap, Birch was arrested in Timaru within two hours. A doctor was fetched for O'Connell, who was sent to Timaru hospital, where an operation was necessary, the* back of the skull being cut through as if from the blow of an axe. His condition is precarious, and his depositions wero taken at 1 p.m. He is still in a critical stato.

Accused, when before tho Court, admitted absconding from Burnham. The Magistrate said that in such a serious case counsel must be provided for accused.