ATTACK ON A WARDER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 113, 14 May 1914, Page 3

ATTACK ON A WARDER

A VIOLENT YOUTH. ' Hr ISUORAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) INVERCARGILL, 13th May. At the local reformatory to-day Douglas Stark, a quarter-caete, was charged" before Mr. Thos. Hutchison, S.M., with (1) on 27th April, at Invercargill Prison, assaulting his x officer by throwing the contents of a receptacle at him, and with endeavouring to hit the same officer with part of a cell stool ; (2) on 27th April committing an act of gross misconduct by wilfully damaging the uniform of an officer. Prisoner pleaded guilty to both charges. Probation Warder Douglas said that he had occasion to be in the vicinity of prisoner's cell, and prisoner was requested to empty a. receptacle. WitmeES told him to put it outside the door. Prisoner picked the receptacle up and said : "Take that," at the same time throwing the contents on witnees. Witness ducked, and prisoner immediately hit him on. the head with a, part ol a cell (stool. The gaoler, Mr. Hawkins, produced the stool, and said that the hinge previously contained, four wrews, 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 tune of the offence, was under report for damaging prison property and disobeying the orders of his officer. Prisoner was an untutored youth. Asked if he had anything to say, accused replied in the negative. He was sentenced to seven days on bread and water on the first charge and ordered to forfeit 540 marks on the second. Addressing accused the Magistrate said : "You are getting off very leniently. It is fortunate for you that you were not brought up for an indictable offence. This act was a very gross and (brutal one." /