A BRUTAL ASSAULT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4409, 3 May 1893, Page 3

A BRUTAL ASSAULT.

(By Telegraph,-Press Association,). . . IsrxiteuGiix, Tuesday, : . Yesterday Charles Murdoch, a sawmill hand, was charged with having assaulted his daughter and sister-in-law (Annio Holland) on the main road of the village of Clifton. The evidence ehowed that'the assault, espeoiaily on. the sister-in-law, was very seme, and that .about a do«en men. and bays etood by, only one of thera interfering, although - 'Holland was thrown, down and kiokedbyMurdoch. Accused pleaded, guilty, and. said be was. drunk, The police spoke of a more serious offenco having been attempted on the person of the daughter, Mr Raw Eon, K.M,, asked tho girl what he should do-send her father to prison, or fine him ?. .She replied that he should be sent to gaol. The Magistrate passed a sentence of six months' hard labour, During tho afternoon sitting accused came in to Court with bis relatives, and counsel aiked for a mitigation of the punishment. . The R,M, asked tho police sergeant what he thought about the application, The - sergeant said his

opinion was that the sentence should stand, but the matter was in the hands of-the Bench.. Mr Rawson altered the sontence to a fiuo of £lO and costs,' or in default three month's imprisonment, and ordered ■ Murdoch to find securities for.his good behaviour for six months. .■■■■ . ■