"TAKE THAT!"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 294, 15 May 1914, Page 6

"TAKE THAT!"

■ " ' ■«»■ PRISONER ASSAULTS GAOL WARDER. A PREMEDITATED OFFENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Wednesday. At the local reformatory to-day Douglas Stark, a quarter-caste, was charged before Mr. Thos. Hutchison, S.M., with (1) on April 27, at Invercargill prison, assaulting his officer by throwing the contents of a receptacle at him, and with endeavoring to hit the same ollicer with part of a cell stool; (2) on April 27, committing an act of gross misconduct by wilfully damaging the uniform of an ollicer. The prisoner pleaded guilty to both charges. Probationer-warder Douglas said that he had occasion to be in the vicinity of prisoner's cell and was requested to empty a receptacle. Witness told him to put it outside the door. Prisoner picked up the receptacle, and said, "Take that!" at the same time throwing the contents on witness. Witness ducked, and the prisoner immediately hit him on the head with part of a cell stool. Gaoler Hawkins produced the stool, and said that the hinge previously contained four screws, and was attached to another part of the stool. These had been removed, and this showed that the act was premeditated. The accused had a bad record, and at the time, of the offence was uader report for damaging prison property and disobeying the orders of his officer. This prisoner was an untutored youth. Asked if he had anything to say, the accused replied in the negative. He was sentenced to seven days on bread and water on the first charge, and orderi ed to forfeit 540 marks on the second. I Addressing the accused, the Magis- | trate said, "You are getting off very leniently. It is fortunate for you that ' you were not brought up for an indict--1 able offence. This act was a very gross and brutal one."