LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4712, 2 August 1893, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

This Day. (Before B. Beetham, Esq., E.M.) A Prison Offence.— J. Pierce, a convict undergoing sentence in Lyttelton gaol, wan charged with assaulting Principal Warder Reston by striking him in the face with a shovel. The accused pleaded "Guilty." 11. H. Cleary, Chief Gaoler, said that on July 29 he saw Warder Eeston with his face covered with blood. Aeked him the cause, and he (Eeston) replied that convict Pierce had struck him with a shovel. Warder Eeston deposed that on July 29 he waß in the orderly-room, when Pierce, who was employed as a cleaner, was engaged cleaning out] the fireplace. Accused asked witness if he should empty some ashes that were in a. box outside, and witness replied "No." Accused then used obscene language to witness, and Etruclc him in the face with a shovel which lie bad in his hand, drawing blood. In reply to the Bench, accused said that bo waa sorry for what he had done. The Gaoler gave accused a fairly good character, but said he had a hasty temper, and at times was a littlo quarrelsome. His Worship said that accused had been guilty of a very eerious offence. The law allowed him to impo&e a

penalty of thirty days' confinement in irons, but taking into account hia good character as a prisoner he would be sentenced to fifteen days' close confinement m irons, to be kept in a light cell.