TEN YEARS IN GAOL

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1929, Page 16

TEN YEARS IN GAOL

SYDNEY GUNMAN SENTENCED. BRAVE YOUNG CONSTABLE. At the Central Criminal Court in Sydney recently, Charles Thompson, aged .29, a wharf labourer, who had been convicted on a charge of having attempted to shoot Constable Jackson,, was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude. The story as told at the trial was that a street disturbance occurred and three men engaged in a fight. Constable Jackson arrested two of the men, when Thompson intervened, and catching hold of the constable’s arm allowed the two men to escape. The constable was about to run after his prisoners when Thompson drew a revolver and threatened to shoot him if he moved. Thompson fired gt the constable, but fortunately the bullet jammed, in the barrel. The constable then fired two shots, one of which took effect in Thompson’s shoulder, and he collapsed. Other shots were fired bv men in the crowd, to which the constable replied. Detective-Sergeant Miller stated that he had known the prisoner for ten years. He was the associate of some of the worst gunmen in Sydney. He had been convicted of violent crimes, including assaults on the police. Since his arrest and while out on bail he was caught by a shopman stealing in a shop. When the shop assistant accosted him he became violent and threatened to “bash” his brains out with a chair. Counsel for the prisoner stated that hb had served at the war, and that most of the charges preferred against him had been committed while he was under the influence of drink. He had taken fits while confined in Long Bay Penitentiary. The Judge said that he took a serious view of the offence, and in sentencing Thompson said: “I cannot, conclude without /expressing my admiration of the bravery displayed by that young constable, Jackson. He is a young man who has just concluded his period of probation, and, single-handed, he showed a considerable amount of bravery that would have been a credit to those in the police force who were very much his seniors. He was subjected to a searching cross-examination by a very able advocate, and anyone who listened to him must have been-convinced that he was a witness of truth, I think that it is only fair to make these remarks because I think his bravery deserves some recognition."