ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3042, 12 November 1908, Page 5

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

TWENTY YEARS' IMIRISONMENT.

A DESPERATE CRIMINAL

EXCITING SCENE IN COURT

By Telegraph—Press Association

AUCKLAND, November 11

At the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr justice Edwards, William Richard McLean, alias Murphy, alias William Loft, a tall, swarthy, powerfully-built man of about thirty years of age, was placed upon his trial on a charge of attempted murder and using obscene language. In outlining the case for the prosecution, Mr Tole explained that on July 30th prisoner was travelling between Te Awamutu and Taumaranui. That district was a prohibition district, and no one was allowed to bring in liquor except for private use, and then it had to be properly labelled. Constable Maher was on the platform, and saw prisoner get oft the train. The constable asked prisoner what he had in his parcel. Subsequently prisoner and Ihe constable got a little further down the road, when prisoner murderously assaulted him, trying to tear his flesh, to dislocate his jaw, to gough his eyes out and to drown him, in addition to which hj?. kicked him, and belaboured him with a heavy piece of timber. From the evidence it was clear that had not several persons come along at the opportune moment the 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 the 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 consable, and had nearly succeeded in doing so. Prisoner would bo sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment.

"What?" said the prisoner. "Twenty years," replied the judge. Then cursing all and sundry he 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 him. The prisoner, who vowing to have his revenge, was carried still struggling to the cells.