LYNCH-LAW AT PEAK-HILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9991, 5 March 1904, Page 3

LYNCH-LAW AT PEAK-HILL.

AN ALLEGED MURDERER

ASSAULTED

DISGRACEFUL COURTHOUSE SCENE.

SYDNEY, February 27. A despatch from Peak Hill states: — There was a close approach here yesterday to lynch law. Ah Chick, who is charged with murdering his employer, William Tregaskis, being savagely assaulted at the inquest, and only saved from further violence by the united efforts of the police, the court officials, and the jury. When the Court had assembled for the purpose of holding the inquest, the Coroner gave the order for the accused to be brought m. He was liandcuffed, and was led mby a police officer. As he entered the Court, a son-in-law of tlie deceased, named Oxley, a justice of the peace, hit him a terrible blow m the mouth, and felled him to the ground. Oxley Avas at once secured and taken before the Coroner, and remanded to be dealt with by the police magistrate. The inquest- was then proceeded with quietly, until the deceased's son was called m to give evidence. Tlie police anticipated trouble, and watched him closely, but he eluded their vigilance, and, hurling a large stone with great violence at the prisoner, struck him on the side of the face, causing an ugly wound. Constable Robson closed with the assailant, who became very violent. Robson having thrown him, succeeded m handcuffing him after a severe struggle, which threatened to become general. In tho confusion, chairs and tables were knocked over, and the deceased's friends made strong endeavors to get at the trembling Erisoner, who was guarded determinedly y the police sergeant and the jury. Eventually order was restored, and Tregaskis was charged with contempt of court, and, like the former disturber, remanded to the police court.

The dock, the chairs, and the Courtroom furniture were splashed with blood, as the result of the fracas, which m all probability would not have occurred had there be«i sufficient police protection. The officers here did their duty m a praiseworthy manner, and no blame whatever can be attributed to them for the disturbance.

The inquest was again resumed after the second interruption, and at the conclusion of the evidence a verdict of wilful murder was returned against the prisoner. The jury added a rider, m which the Coroner coricured, complimenting the (police on the manne m which they had conducted the case.

In the evening the prisoner was locked m the Courthouse ' ,the. grounds were cleared, and the police patrolled around the building. Arrangements are being made for the safe conduct of the prisoner to Dubbo.