ASSAULT IN THE GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 79, 3 April 1911, Page 5

ASSAULT IN THE GAOL.

CHIEF WARDER STRUCK.

PRISONER OBJECTS TO WHITEWASHING.

The Mt. Eden Gaol was constituted a Police Court this morning, for-the purpose of hearing a charge of assault levelled against prisoner William Grant Stuart. Mr. E. C. Cutten,»B3l., presided, and the charge against the prisoner was that on March 27 he aseaulted Chief Warder' Henry McMurray, by striking him on the face. The particulars embraced in the Chief Warder's report were that on the 27th the prisoner asked to see him, and on the Chief Warder going to the prisoner, he complained about having to whitewash some outbuildings., On being asked if there was any reason why he should not, do the duty,' the prisoner struck the Chief Warder on the-left cheek, and threatened to give him more. The prisoner is a big boned, tall man, 62 years of age, and ne has served a little over three years of a seven years' sentence for manslaughter committed at Helensville. He admitted striking the Warder, and said he was immediately sony. Hβ knew what : discipline was; haying served in the mounted constabulary in New. Zealand, and.having tieen a sergeant of police in Fiji. He did not think the order given him was fair, as he had had trooble witn his eyes, having been twice in the hospital with them. He did not think it was fair; that he should-run the chance of losing.his sight by performing what he considered was a silly order.

His Worship pointed out that prisoner's method. was not the proper. one of protesting against an order,; and he would halve to be punished. However, as. his previous conduct was no* bad he woulcT be lenient, and would order prisoner to lose one month's marks.