SYDNEY UNDERWORLD

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 12

SYDNEY UNDERWORLD

WORST MEMBER ARRESTED

j THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. <” Described by Detective Sergeant Gomans as ‘'the worst member of the. underworld in Sydney,” Norman McDonald, 29, a labourer, was sentenced at the Central Police Court, Sydney, lo three months’ imprisonment. He was charged with having assaulted Warder Saltier at Long Bay Gaol on November it. When sentence was passed McDonald was classed as a criminal with a violent temper. The maximum penalty was imposed, the sentence to commence at the expiry of a sixmonths’ term imposed on McDonald on October 28, 1032, on a charge of consorting, with known criminals. Warder Ernest Sattler said he was patrolling No. 8 remand yard at the goal when he spoke to McDonald foi smoking. McDonald used insulting words to him, and he went for assistance to take McDonald to the lockup cells, lie opened the gate for McDonald to come with him, and just outside McDonald rushed at him and hit him on the chin and the left eye. “The blow dazed me, and I am not sure what happened after that,” said Sattler. To .Mr Ncwnham: I made -no attempt to strike the prisoner with the lock I was carrying. 1 don't -know whether McDonald was locked in a dark cell for 87 hours afterwards.” “Come On, Boys.” Warder William Moore stated that as McDonald was going to I lie gale with Sattler McDonald called out, “Well, I will well go lor something,” and punched Saltlar. Moore grappled with McDonald, who was calling to the other prisoners, “Gome on; out with me, boys.” Moore managed to get the gate shut and take McDonald in front of No. 2 yard, where he twisted in his grip, kicked him on the shins, and called out again, “Come out and joint me, boys!” Many other prisoners were calling out and creating disorder. “We fell to the ground struggling, and Warder Condon llred a shot from the tower, and McDonald screamed out, ‘Murderl’” said Moore. "Assistance came, and the prisoner was taken to the cells." McDonald stated he was at present In custody at Long Bay awaiting an appeal. As he was going through the gate Sattler lifted a heavy lock ns though to strike him. "1 shaped up,” said McDonald; “he made an attempt to hit me, and I punched him.” To Mr Haves, McDonald admitted that he had been twice convicted for assaulting warders while serving a three-years’ sentence, from which lie was released on license this year. Racecourse Outers. Detective Sergeant Comans stated tiiat lie had known McDonald for the last six or seven years. McDonald had faced many charges of assault and robbery, but lie and his criminal associates had always inLiinidated the witnesses and no evidence was given. As soon as McDonald was released from gaol tills year, said Comans, lie joined up with several other criminals and frequented the “outers” of racecourses and dog meetings, assaulting and robbing s.p. bookmakers, and even pie-sellers—here, again, people were too frightened to give evidence. Comans said he had known McDonald to have an argument with a man in a hotel, go out and pawn his s;leeve-links, buy a revolver, and come back and sboot the man twice through the head. A further charge against McDonald of breaking the conditions of a gaolrelease license was adjourned until December 20.