A DANGEROUS CUSTOMER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 274, 12 November 1908, Page 2

A DANGEROUS CUSTOMER.

m A 20 YEARS' SENTENCE. ! DESPERATE DASH FOR FREEDOM.

THE POLICE ATTACKED IN COURT. FIFTEEN CONSTABLES OVERPOWER A PRISONER.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Edwards, William Richard

McLean alias Murphy, alias Win. Loft, a tall, swarthy, powerfully-built man, about 30 ycais of age, was placed upon his trial on a charge of attempted murder and using obscene language. bn

outlining the case for the prosecution, Mr. Tole explained that on the 30th July prisoner was travelling between Te Awamutu and Taumarunui. That district was a prohibition district, and no one was allowed to bring in liquor except for private use, and then had to he properly labelled. Constable Mailer

was on the platform, and saw prisoner get oil' the train. The constable asked prisoner what he had in his parcel. Subsequently prisoner and the co'nstabl'' got a little further down the road when

prisoner murderously assaulted him, trying to tear his il'osh, to dislocate Ins' jaw, to gouge his eyes out and to drown him in addition to which he kicked him and belabored him with a heavy piece of. limber.

From the evidence it was clear that had not several persons come along at the opportune moment prisoner's expressed intention of torturing the constable to death would have been carried into effect. As it was, the constable received very serious injuries. The jury returned a verdict of guilty

on all counts. His Honor said prisoner had previously been convicted of robbery with violence and for breaking and entering. It was evident he had intended to murder the constable and had nearly succeeded in doing so. Prisoner would be sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. •What'.'* said 'the prisoner, ''twenty years?'' Then cursing all and sundry, lie made a desperate attempt to escape from the Court, dealing sledge-hammer blows at the police who intercepted him. It took fifteen constables to overpower the prisoner, who, vowing to have his revenge, was curried still struggling to the cells.