BOY STABBED WITH KNIFE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16545, 27 September 1924, Page 12

BOY STABBED WITH KNIFE.

MAN’S REMARKABLE PLEA.

UNCONTROLLABLE IMPULSE

An immigrant, mimed Fred Sparling, aged 24, employed as a hotel yardman, was arrested at Katun,uiiig, West Australia, and charged with the stabbing of a hoy, aged 14, named Francis Herbert Kcirle. Sparling was acquainted with Keirlc, who was sent to a baker’s shop for a loaf of bread. At the shop the pair met and-the accused walked with the boy in the direction of his home. After going a short distance tho accused suddenly drew a knife and plunged it into the breast of the boy. The accused attempted to strike again but stumbled and fell. The boy staggered , to Iho house oT a. friend nearby, who notified the police and a doctor.' Later the boy was removed to the hospital, where it was found the wound had penetrated the left lung. As the injury was considered serious the boy’s depositions were taken. The police found the accused in his room at the hotel cleaning the blood from the knife with which he had conij mittod the assault. Ho admitted , the ’ stabbing the boy, and said ho had acted under uncontrollable impulse. He confessed that he was responsible for tho maiming of a, nuinlicir of horses in tho district a few months ago, and produced another knife with which he stated he attacked the horses. H is undc-rstoqd that some time ago Sparling met with an accident with a horse, and subsequently ho had a passion for attacking every horse he saw. Apparently, however, he confined his operations in this respect to horses that were temporarily left unattended. The accused’s room at the hotel was decorated with illustrations from police, budgets depicting all sorts of 'horrible crimes.