ATTEMPTED MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 18834, 29 May 1920, Page 5

ATTEMPTED MURDER

C. E .MACK.-V)' SENTENCED. FIFTEEN YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT. (Per United Press Association.) WANGANUI, May 28. Charles Evans Ma.ckay, who pleaded guilty to a. eh a rite of attempted murder, was brought up for sentarv-e at the Supreme Court fit's monung. In addre.-sing 'ln- Court on behalf of nc- ■ •u.-'ad. Mr Tread wed said that after a. very careful and serious ai-nsidaration by himself and his friend Mr Mcßalh, it had been decided that under the riratunstan-a-; the only honourable aoue.-a which could be pur tied was that Mack ay should plead

;:nilty. Tt was his duty Pa exonerate Oresswel! from any blame whatever, and he did I his with the full concurrence tint! approval nf accused. I'imcc'.'iling, Mr Treadwell said that accused was a man of considerable scholastic altainmenfs and tt member of an honourable profe.-Miin, and until recently lie occupied the hiehe-f position his fellow citizens could iic-j'iv,-, and now he was in this 00-ition, Some cause must lie sought for this, and the reason, he (Mr Treadwell I thought would be found to he a subject for regret and he gave- it in justification of acctpfd in th<- hope of it somewhat mitigatins- ■ -.rumo-e. Inquiries had been made, and it had been found that for a number --1 years ace nsei: had risen suffering from homo sexual mntK.iuani.i. Mr Ti-eadwe.! ■aiid he had pone into ihe matter with accused and he thought he was justified in speaking of the efforts accused had made to line him-elf. 11-" had consulted doctors and metatihy-ieinns. For some months accused had be-n suffering mental strain, and this together with the threat of exposure, unhinged it is mind. /,■ r i’e. • ,i.-i; eMed'es'd by impeding to Mis Honour lit temp-:' .iu-'t.V" v. ith ;>i‘ r y. 1 !is Honour. ■ d.:• ■< -■ . • ' ■ • was very sorry to see him in this position. He had know n acr. u . , many years. lie was one of the mo. t brilliant I niversity ; rodentrnu’ hi- career hail s'nce been ycod. He it. d held the highest position in tla ■' city. Now he wns in the dock. His Honour said the' attemrt o •••••r .ev "i :.n impulsive act ns was «hmvti lay (.'resvdi's ; .t.-m-r-r. lie heel born asked to exercise his functions with compassion ■■mi merry, hut it dtould he remembered that this was rn attack on human life. His Honour said he still ho- ed that Ma-ka.y would n -if r >l himself. He Hun sentenced ret u--e< : to fifteen years’ imprisonment with hard labour