ATTACK ON A BARRISTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1556, 14 September 1886, Page 4

ATTACK ON A BARRISTER.

The Melbourne Age reports that Mr Purves, Q.C., preferred a serious complaint at the Melbourne. City Court recently against an eccentric fellow named Alfred . Gilson, whom he charged with annoying and insulting him and threatening" to break into his dwelling. Accused was also charged with assaulting Constable Midola, who arrested him. Mr Purves said Gilson, whom he believed to be a lunatic unfit to be at large, had on Friday night called at his house and there created a great disturbance, after all the inmates had gone to bed. He battered the street door violently with a thick stick and rang the bell for several minutes, alarming the household. Under the belief that the house was on fire, Mr Purves hastily dressed nod went to the door, vhere he found Gilson in a most excited state. He thrust into Mr Purves’ hands a letter which seems to have been written by a madman. The writer de- • mended immediate employment, with £3 a' week wjiges, stating that he had a famishing wife and three children. When ordered off the premises, Gilson brandished bis stick with furious gestures and threatening language. Not being able to get rid of the intruder, Mr Purves armed himself with the drawing-room poker. Gilson then retreated into the road, followed by the barrister, who was determined to give him into custody. The lunatic wore on his head an extraordinary fur or bearskin cap, somewhat like a wig. He had no hat. WheU he saw Mr Purves following him he concealed himself, but was observed to spring out upon and seriously frighten two young men, wbc pass ’d his hiding place, and he was heard to threaten to knock their brains out. A parcels delivery man who drove by was greatly alarmed by him, and hurriedly quitted the spot. Up one street and down another, in East Melbourne in the dead of the night, the dangerous man - walked, followed at a prudent distance by the lawyer armed with his steel poker. , Two respectable looking women w hom they met were so frightened that they took to their heels, and were pursued some distance by the maniac, whom Mr Purves observed in a mysterious way change his head-dress. After a while Mr Purves returned to his house. Some'time afterwards Constable Midola arrived, and having discovered Gilson, took him into custody. Then a violent scene occurred. With great difficulty the maniac was placed in a cab to be'conveyed to the nearest police station. Mr

Purves mounted the vehicle and took his • sent by the side of the driver; but they had not proceeded many yards, when Gilsog furiously attacked the policeman and endeavored to overpower him and throw bim out. A desperate struggle took place in . the waggonette, and Mr Purves got down to assist the officer. The cab Windows were both smashed in the scuffle. For several minutes this encounter lasted, when the constable, being fortunately the stronger man, succeeded in handcuffing his assailant and disarming him of hie heavy stick, afler which the cab was driven to the watchtiouse, Mr Purves assured the miigiatiates tnat he had seen accused prowling about his house on several occasions before this night. When he ordered the fellow < ft Gilson called him a scoundrel and other offensive- names. Constable Midola having described to the Bench’ His rough encounter with the maniac and the violent behavior of the latter after his arrest, and the cabman, Michael Meban, having related the" part he took in the extraordinary adventure, and described the damage done to his . vehicle, the Bench convicted accused of the charges preferred. For the insulting behavior he was fined £lO, or in default three months’ imprisonment, and- for the fuither effence of assaulting the police he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, without the option of a fine.