HEATED PROTEST IN COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1932, Page 9

HEATED PROTEST IN COURT

PRISONER RESENTS ADVICE COMPLAINT AGAINST WARDERS. HIS BACK TURNED UPON JUDGE. WELLINGTON RAZOR SLASHING. By Telegraph,—-Frees Association. WMlijlgton, August 5. John Richard Anderson, aged 25, was charged in the Supreme Court to-day with intentionally doing actual bodily harm to Owen Mulholland and'Cornelius Clark, also with assaulting the two men so as to cause them actual bodily harm. Mr. Justice Reed was on the Bench. Before the jury was empanelled the prisoner made a heated protest against one of the prison warders. Ho said the warder had told him that he had better plead guilty to the charge of aggravated assault, for if he pleaded not. guilty, and afterwards was found guilty of wounding with intent he would get a long sentence and a flogging. The prisoner also complained about the attitude adopted by the solicitor, who had been appointed by the Crown to appear for him. Anderson said the solicitor had told him he could not take his case if he did not plead guilty to the charge of aggravated assault, “I cannot understand the attitude of these men,” added Anderson, heatedly. “It is not the attitude of honest mefl, it is not- —” “That will do, prisoner,” said his Honour. “The advice that was given to you was excellent.” With that Anderson turned his back to the Bench and faced the bystanders at the back of the Court. He was then told to face the proper way. . Anderson, who was not represented by counsel, exercised his. full right of six challenges and also rigorously cross-ex-amined the Crown witnesses. The case is that arising from the affair at the rear of the City Hotel on May 7, two men being slashed with a razor. _ Anderson was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.