SIX YEARS FOR ASSAULT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9168, 17 March 1910, Page 8

SIX YEARS FOR ASSAULT.

SYDNEY, Feb. 25. Morris Hill, one of the prisoners who escaped from the train at Breeza. was charged with assaulting Michael Madden, at Gunnedah, recently, with intent to rob him. Madden, an old man, had returned to Gunnedah from Lightning Ridge, with a few opals, which he was trying to sell in tho street, when Hill knocked the opals out of his hand. When the opals were picked up, one was missing, and the old man, suspecting Hill, had him arrested. The opal not being found on him, Hill w.as discharged. The same afternoon Madden took his swag and started along the road towards Mullaley. Hill started soon afterwards, and Constable Pearce, anti- | cipating that Hill would harm Madden, followed. Madden, when beyond the railway line, threw his swag against a tree and sat down, and began to read ,a book. Meanwhile Hill had concealep himself some little dis- i tance away', and still further, away Pearce hid behind a tree. Hill then rushed at Madden, striking him first with his fist and then afterwards threw half al, brick at him. He then threw himself on the old man, and, while throttling him, tore the pocket out of his trousers in attempting to get the opals. Pearce rushed up and secured Hill, and locked him up. The accused was found guilty, and, having 28 previous convictions, was sentenced to six years' hard labour. On a charge of escaping from custody he was sentenced to six months' gaol.