CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1677, 1 October 1887, Page 2

CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

Dukedin, September 30. At the City Police Court, Divid Goldsmith, Daniel Hamilton, and Andrew Oraig was charged with, on the 27th September, nnlawfally assaulting one Margaret WHaon, with intent to ravish her. Mr Solomon, witti him Mr D. M. Stuart, appeared for the aacused. The court having been oleared, the proseoatrix gave her story, to the eff-ct that while returning through the Southern Recreation Ground the three accuaed rushed out on her fr.m the side of a tree. Goldsmith csaght hold of her, Oraig threw her down, and Hamilton, hold her by the feet for a minnte while she was down Witness then gave ovidence as to the assault, auJ eontiuaed— Goldsmith was at her head and pnt a handkerchief over her throat Witness screamed one*, and was about to •oream a second time, when Goldsmith ■aid, "Choke the—.." AU that Hamilton did was to hold her by the feet for about a minute, and thoa he wont over into the middle of tho road. Witness screamed once, and was too exoited to ecream again. Iwo men and two young women appeared, and then tho accused ran away. One of the women asked witness if she wan hart, and witness answered, *' Wo." She was severely cross-examined, and admitted having been a prostitute for a week, and being intimate with the prisoner Hamilton. She did not tell her mistress nor her mother. Her mistress, m giving evidenoe, denied the trnth of the statement of the girl as to the time of her leaving her house, and stated that, when the asked to get away to oonoo to Court it was on the ground that a-other girl had bean assaulted, and she was a witness for the defence. It was also contended that a woman prosecutrix alleged she had been visiting had no existence. After addrtsa by counsel, the defendants were committed for trial, bail being allowed.