HORRIBLE OUTRACE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 271, 9 June 1888, Page 3

HORRIBLE OUTRACE.

A cask surrounded with circumstances'bf a horrible nature was discovered on the evening of 25th of May in a police cell at the Central Police Station, George-street, Sydney. It appears that at about half -past 5 o'clock in the afternoon a middleaged man, who gave his name as William John Towers, was locked up on a charge of drunkenness, he at the time being in a helpless condition. An hour later another prisoner named Robert Hewitt, who also showed signs of having indulged in liquor, was located in the same cell as Towers. Subsequently soumte were heaid proceeding from the cell, but it being a common thing for prisoners to create all kinds of vocal noiso when locked up, little or no attention was taken by the officials of the noise emanating from the compartment where the new men were confined. At about half-past sevon o'clock one of the police visited the cell, as is customary, to attend to the wants of the inmates, when he found Towers lying on his face with part of hi& clothing lying at his heels. Upon a closer inspection he saw that the man had guttered irreparable injury, and on looking round he discovered pieces of dismembered fle&h lying on the floor. The other prisoner, who, durmg this time, exhibited symptoms of nervousneas, was examined, and it was soon that both his hands were smeared in blood ; but on being taxed with having committed the outrage, he repudiated the accusation. The injured man— who still remain in a stupid condition from the effects of drink— was forthwith conveyed to the Sydney Hospital, where he was found to be suilering from serious lacerations, but the actual condition could not be propel ly asccitained until he recovered from his state of .stupefaction, consequent upon his dunking bout. The police have reason to believe that the namo given by Towers was a nctitiuiih one. A cable message states that Towers has died fioni the ellect ot his fearful injuries, so that Hewitt will have to stand his tiial on a serious charge.