MILTON STABBING AFFRAY

Evening Star, Issue 19848, 23 April 1928, Page 8

MILTON STABBING AFFRAY

CHARGE AGAINST lIASSETT POLICE PROSECUTION OPENS ATTK.MPTF.D MHUDKII CHARGE WITHDUAWN. [From Oi'R Own Kki’Obteb.]

.MILTON, April *J3. William Hassell, charged with attempting to murder Albert Lloyd afc Milton on the oven lug ol April lb, appeared in the local Police Court this morning boloro Air 11. J. Dixon, &.M. Detective Farquliarson conducted tho prosecution for tho police. The charge of attempted murder was withdrawn and replaced by that ol assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Mr C. J. L. 'While appeared lor the accused. . , , .. , , Dr J;une,> Edgar said that Lloyd and another man called ADDomicll carno to his house on the evening of April 15. Ho examined Lloyd, and as a result lound that there were indications that his clothing had been pierced by an instrument,. There was a wound more or less horizontal in his abdomen, one inch in length and situated almost in a middle hue. There was also a transverse wound in the middle finger’ ot Hie right hand. Tho result of tho wound might have been death within thirty seconds, because if the wound had been straight instead of slanting (ho instrument would have cut the main artery of the abdomen. Witness dressed the wound and scut Lloyd to the hospital. To Mr White: Hie patient was now well on tho road to recovery. The blow was deflected to Hie right, and came out lo the muscles of tho stomach. It was possible that the man might have fallen on Hio instrument and Ids weight caused it to ho driven right into” him. The linger wound was on Hie tip. , . Alary Agnes ALTlanly stated that she resided with her aunt, Airs Coleman, of Johnston street, Alilton. She knew the accused, and kept company with him for some time. This relationship stopped two or three years ago. Not at her ish she had met him since, but had told him many times that she did not want to have anything to do with him. lie threatened that if (ic ever saw her with anybody else he would shoot both her and the person she was with. Lloyd had been threatened in this way on Sunday, April 15. She left her aunt’s with the intention of going to Mrs Curran’s, Lloyd accompanying her. She came away Irom Airs Curran’s at about 10 o’clock. She came down tho path, and when about hallway to the gate recognised the voices of _ Lloyd and Jlasselt, Lloyd said; ‘ Who are von waiting on?” liassett replied: “ I am waiting tor you.” She heard a scnlllo, waited for a minute, and went to the gae. She saw Lloyd bending over liassett and holding him. Tho latter was lying on his back on the footpath. Site asked Lloyd if she would call Constable APQuitty. lie answered, Are there any men about? Get someone quickly, tie has a knife.” She stopped at Curran’s residence. The accused laid showed her the knife once about two months ago. lliis, he told her, was a new speculator, remarking: ‘‘lsn’t it an ugly brute? Witness described the knife as well as she knew to Air White. It was bovoti yours smeo she sturtc<l keeping company with the accused. Latterly ho took very much to drink- At one time she was engaged to him, her mam reason for giving him up being Jus drinking propensity. She was not going with Lloyd when liassett issued threats, hut was only a friend. It was very dark on the night of the incident. She heard the struggling only for a short time, and then went out. She knew who Hie men were. To Detective Farquharsou: faho had no doubt in her own mind us to the idontitication of the men. Air White objected to tho witness being cross-examined concerning the arrangements to meet Lloyd. James APDonncll, a draper s assistant, of llalclutlia, said that he was .spending the day in Milton mui tho evening portion of it at Curran s, m Union street, in consequence ot soniothinir ho was told by Aliss APHardy, ho went out to tho street, where ho saw a car standing at tho front ot tho ■rate, and also tho figure of a man going around Marryatt’s Corner. It looked like liassett. Trior to going to Dr Edgar’s with Lloyd ho opened up his clothing and examined tho wound. Witness knew tho accused personally, but did nut often conic into contact with him- , , L . , c Albert William Lockhart, painter, or Milton, residing at the Commercial Hotel, said that he came along Union street that night m company with Whvtock. He knew tho accused by Mfdit, and saw him by Curran s gate. Whvtock asked tho accused lor a match. They then Jib a cigarette each, tho accused remarking that it was great weather for threshing ami that he would have to start early m the morning. Tho tlirco of them down to Alarryatt s Corner. Jho accused had a knife, which at one time ho took out of his pocket and leturncd again after opening and closing it. The knifo seemed an ordinary one, but witness could not see what the handle was like. The accused made no remark about the knife. As tar as wituoSvS could sco, Hasscifc was sobci that audit, his gait being quite steady and his speech rational. There were no sii-ns of liquor on him. ”f<> Air White; Ho was not looking for signs of drink, but his present recollection was that ho did nut see any visible signs of it. They 101 l tho accused at Alarryatt’s corner. Aichiu Al‘Donald Whvtock, plumber, also of Alilton, gavo corroborative evidence. , , , Constable ADQuitly stated that alter tho arrest of the accused lie asked him if he had a statement to make. Tho accused said that lie remembered nothing about it, and that his arrest on the present charge was a complete shock Lo him. Ho also said that he had been drinking during the week-end. On bunday evening lie had gone to the chemist’s shop to sec about some films, and, while there got some “dope, lie remembered nothing alter leaving the shop Witness found tho knife on the accused, but there were no bloodstains on it. After the arrest liassett was visited by his father and brother, the accused asking for a different suit of clothes from tho one he had been enested in. His brother said: Hie back of your coat is all dirt.” Accused asked if” witness had seen it. Witness said that it was a blue serge coat dirtied on the back. To Air White: Ho examined the suit closelv, and did not see any mark of cuts about it. He would not swear 'that there were no cuts. Tho “dope” referred to was probably a “ pick-mo-up ” and not “snow.” Thomas Harris Fraser, manager of the United Friendly Societies’ chemist shop in Alilton, stated that Hassctt called at tho shop with three negatives. At tho same time ho said he had bceu drinking fairly heavily during the weekend, and was feeling rather dry. Witness gavo him a peppermint drink with water. Detective Farquarson; It has been suggested that you gavo him dope that evening. Air White: That has not been suggested at all. Witness; “I supplied him with peppermint and water.” To Air AVhite: I gave him a drink for quenching his thirst, not for any ailment at all. ■ To Detective Farquharson: Hassett mentioned that ho had had a bottle of whisky during the week. He was ■ sober and sensible in the shop. The court adjourned till 2.30 to take J/Jfoyd’s evidence at the hosgrtah