A Brutal Assault.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9974, 21 June 1901, Page 3

A Brutal Assault.

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

During the hearing of the charge of attempted murder, attempted rape, and indecent assault preferred against George Shanahan, alias Shannon, at Aranioho, it was stated that the assault was a most brutal one. The Crown Prosecutor expressed the opinion -that-the'case'for the consideration of the jury was a most serious one; in fact it was greatly to be marvelled at that they had not to deal with the most serious charge on the calendarthat of murder. The first charge is that of attempted murder ; the second of doing actual bodily harm; third, asault with attempt to commit rape; fourth, of indecent assault. He thought there was very little doubt but that the prime motive was a, sexual offence, and he went on to sketch the case for the prosecution, as follows: Caroline Peters, a woman of some 50 years of age,' was in the service of Mrs Stewart, of Aramho, and had come down> to town intending to get some small parcels to take to a married daughter, who lived at Sedgbrook. She went info Coleman's .second-hand shop, and when leaving she was joined by the accused, who spoke to her, but she, being Very deaf.could not hear what he said. He accompanied her, in spite of her protests. When 1 they reached the : other side of the river, •Mrs Peters appealed to a carter to induce the man to leave her, but the carter told her to proceed; there would be: no danger as there were people traversing all the road she had to travel. When they had gone some distance, accused attempted to assault the woman. She resisted, and he kicked her in a most brutal and barbarous manner, with the results that her face was reduced to a pulp. She was taken to the hospital, where for a long period.she lay in extremis. Hie accused was afterwards seen with blood on his clothes, and covered with gorse prickles (the scene of the aesault was a gorse bush). Accused was found guilty and sentenced to; 10 years'imprisonment.