ASSISTANT MATRON ATTACKED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23691, 24 December 1938, Page 12

ASSISTANT MATRON ATTACKED

THREE YEARS' SENTENCE NEUROTIC AND NEURASTHENIC (From Our Own Correspondent; (By Air Mail) LONDON, Nov. 28. A chloroform attack on the assistant matron of Halifax Royal Infirmary was described at Leeds Assizes. Sentence of three years' penal servitude was passed by Mr Justice Lewis on Herbert Reginald Sharp, aged 31, of Paradise street, Halifax, for attempted murder by administering poison and strangulation. He was also found guilty of robbery with violence and of burglary, and on these counts was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour and three months' hard labour, respectively, all the sentences to run concurrently. Medical evidence was given that Sharp was a neurotic and a neurasthenic. Mr Raloh Cleworth, prosecuting, said that Sharp blamed the matron of the infirmary for his dismissal from the post of porter. While the matron was away on holiday Miss Emily Kinch, the assistant matron, awoke to find a man in her room. He jumped on to the bed, put one hand over her mouth, and with the other gripped her throat. She struggled, and bit the man's finger. When she became exhausted she felt something cold splashed into her face, and lost consciousness. She was found to be under the influence of chloroform sufficient for a major operation. But for the fact that she received immediate attention it was practically certain she would have died.