A MASTERTON PRISONER'S CRIME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3060, 3 December 1908, Page 5

A MASTERTON PRISONER'S CRIME.

ASSAULTING A GAOLER.

NORMAN BEFORE THE COURT.

On 20th November, while Mr Alexander Armstrong, governor of the Terrace Gaol, was visiting the carpenters' shop in the gaol, he was attacked by one of the prisoners, Joseph Norman, a cabinet maker, and stabbed in the neck with a chisel. The matter, at the was re-opened to-day, when Norman appeared at the Police Court charged with the attempted murder of the gaoler. THE GAOLER'S EVIDENCE. Alexander Armstrong, gaoler, Wellington Prison, stated that the accused was prisoner in his custody, and was so on 20th November last. On that morning accused was employed in the carpenters' shop at the prison, he being a cabinet-maker by trade. About 3 p.m. witness visited the carpenters' shop. A warder was in charge of the shop at the time, and one other prisoner besides the accused was also present. When witness entered the shop accused was employed marking a drawing on a piece of wood. Witness passed him by and entered into a conversation with the officer in charge as to some instructions. While they turned to look at some partly finished work, witness, having his back to the prisoner, received a heavy blow on the neht side of the neck with, as he then thought, a heavy piece of wood. Accused then made an exclamation and bolted out of the shop, followed by the officer in charge. Within a few' minutes the accused was recaptured and brought" back. Dr. Gilmer was immediately called. Shortly after witness discovered Jhe had a wound in the neck, and he kept his fingers in the wound until medical assistance arrived. In reply Chief-Detective M'Grath witness said that at the time he visited the shop accused had a pencil in his hand, but there were several chisels in front of him. He knew of no reason why accused should assault him. Prisoner: Did you know before I came to the gaol? Witness: 1 did not. I do not know whether you are a good or bad man outside. How long have I been in gaol?— You were sentenced to two year i* imprisonment for indecent assault. In reply to accused, witness said he—accused—was very quarrelsome. Did you take any notice of me when I made complaints?—l have always advised you to live in harmony with your fellow prisoners, in order that you might get your sentence completed sooner. Charles Weybourne, warder, who was in charge of the carpenters' shop on 20th November last, tendered corroborative evidence as to the assault. Witness observed accused strike the gaoler. He was not sure whether Norman had anything in his hand or not. The other prisoner chased accused and closed with him, accused resisting strongly. Witness then came up ai d took accused into custody, charging him two days later before a visiting Justice with the offence. Subsequently witness found the chisel, apparently stained with blood, lying on the workshop floor near where the gaoler was standing. In reply to prisoner witness said that there were frequent rows in the workshop caused by accused's quarrelsome nature. He did not give Norman a bottle of whisky on the morning of the occurrence. Prisoner: Did you like the look of me that morning? Witness: You looked pretty mad after the event. To Mr M'Grath: There was no sign of drink on accused that day. A CLOSE CALL. Dr. Gilmer deposed to the nature of the wound in the gaoler's neck. The wound was an incised one, about half an inch Jong, on the right side of the neck towards the" back. The wound was a serious one. Half an inch further to the front it must have been fatal. The chisel—produced—could have cnused the injury. To have penetrated such a thickness of clothing the blow must have been a violent one. He did not think Mr Armstrong was yet quite out of danger. This concluded the case for the prosecution. STATEMENT BY THE ACCUSED. Volunteering to make a statement, accused said that all he had dor.e he had done because of bad treatment. To Mr M'Grath: He was teasedi by both fellow prisoners and' officials. He lost his temper because of something a warder had told himi concerning something "crook" bein£ in the food; when the gaoler came in he stabbed him. He was angry with the gaoler because, when witness had spoken to him about' the food, he refused to take any notice of him. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the . Supreme Court for trial. —"Post."'