RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 837, 9 January 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON.— To-day.

(Before His Worship the Mayor and Mr Thomas Bullock, J.P.)

Indecent Assault. —George Fuller was charged with unlawfully and indecently assaulting a girl named Elizabeth Smith. —Constable Hicks, sworn, said he arrested the prisoner at the Old Men’s Home, Ashburton, yesterday, on the warrant produced. Read the warrant over to the prisoner, who said, “ It is a lie ; Mrs Harris could not see, it was too dark : and even if she was there she could not see through the fence.” Prisoner also said the girl Smith was often there looking after cows, and came to him (prisoner) about half-past eight on Saturday evening, and asked for a penny. Prisoner said, “ I will give you sixpence,” and the little girl put her hand in his trousers pocket (where the sixpence was), and he told her to leave him alone, but she did not do so. —Agnes Francis Harris said she wa> the wife of Thomas Harris, the Master of the Old Men’s Mome. The prisoner was one of the inmates. Was in the garden on

Saturday evening last about eight o’clock. Saw the prisoner coming up from the river-bed with a little girl. Prisoner was talking in an undertone, and the girl rather loudly. Witness heird the little girl asking for a penny, and saw him putting her hand in his trousers pockets. Prisoner caught hold of the girl, and said he would give her sixpence. Witness then spoke to prisoner and said, “ Now, Fuller, I have caught you at your dirty tricks.” She accused him of the assault, and the prisoner denied it.—The accused; How could you see me through the fence ? —Witness : The fence is very thin, and I could easily s-e through it. Annie M’Manus said she was a servant in the employ of Mrs Harris. Remembered last Saturday evening. Was in the garden with Mrs Harris (the last witness) picking fruit. Heard prisoner talking to a little girl outside the fence. Witness corroborated the evidence of the last witness as to the conversation that passed between the prisoner and the girl Smith. —Elizabeth Smith said she was eleven y ars old on New Tear’s Day last. She was a daughter of Robert Smith, and minded his cows. Saw prisoner at the Old Men’s Home on Saturday last. He was standing at the corner when witness came up out of the river-bed. P isoner said, “Come here.” Witness went to him and he offered her threepence. She said she did not want threepence, but a penny. Prisoner said he would give her sixpence. [The witness then described the nature of the assault, which is unfit for publication.] Prisoner desisted from assaulting witness when he saw a woman and a girl pass by.—This closed the case for the prosecution. Prisoner asked to be remanded until Friday next, as he denied the charge of assault.—The Bench said they were agreed that the prisoner should be committed for trial. —The prisoner was then committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court.