Old news from Armidale and New England

Friday 23 December 1927, The Sydney Morning Herald

Miner Charged.

ARMIDALE, Thursday.

Samuel McMurray Wilson, a miner, was to-day committed for trial on a charge of having maliciously, caused gelignite to explode with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Walter Lassetter Beauchamp and William Henry Wesley. Beauchamp, who laid the charge, is a company secretary, of Willoughby, Sydney.

Beauchamp stated that about midnight of December 12 he was sleeping in a hut at Tullock silver mines, at Rockvale, near Armidale, when he was awakened by a tremendous explosion. Together with Wesley, who was also sleeping in the hut, he went outside, and found portion of the hut blown in. Accused came to the hut later, and said to Wesley, “You are a hard man, Wesley. I did it.” Next morning be found a fuse and about 12 sticks of gelignite lying near the corner of the hut.

William Henry Wesley, manager of the Rockvale silver mines, said that he was lying awake in his bunk when he heard someone outside mumbling. He recognised Wilson’s voice. Soon afterwards a most violent explosion occurred.

In reply to Mr. Simpson (for the accused), witness said that accused must have been aware, from the way the gelignite was set, that it could not blow up the hut. On the day in question he had been drinking.

Bail was granted, self in £50, with one surety of £50.