SUPREME COURT.—Criminal Sittings.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 524, 14 September 1871, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.—Criminal Sittings.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14;

[Before His Honor Sir G. A. Arnoy, Knight,

Chief Justice.] The criminal sittings of the Circuit Court were resumed this morning. His Honor took his seat on the Bench at 10 o'clock.

Indecknt Assault.— William Carter, an engine-driver at the Kawakawa coal-mine, was arraigned upon an indictment charging him with having, on the 13th of August, committed an indecent assault upon tho person of Catherine Parnell. The indictment was framed under the Offences Against the Persons Act of 1867, and the Offences Against the Persons Act Amendment Act, 1869. —Mr. Brookfield conducted tho prosecution on behalf of the Crown; Mr. Hesketh defended tbe prisoner.—Some of the evidence is unfit for publication, but the following is an outline of the statement of the'prosecutrix : —She was sorvant in the house ;• of Mr. Williams, manager of the Kawakawa coalmine.. The prisoner lodged at her father's house, which was situated at some distance from the place where she was at service. Tho young couple used to, walk out together. Tho prisoner had proposed marriage to the girl, , but she ' positively : denied she ever accepted -the prisoner's proposals. On the day in question (Sunday) they walked out together, and came to a clump of ti-trce bush.< Here they sat down, and one of the acts charged was committed. The younger Bister of the prosecutrix came up, and the two went by different tracks towards her father's house. These tracks, however, again converged, aud they met again about a hundred yards from tlie houso of tho girl's father, where the offence was again committed. The discovery was made by tho younger sister crying when she was at the table in her father's house. Tho. facts being disclosed, the father ordered the prosecution of the prisoner.—lt cam'o out iv cross-examination that the prosecutrix and prisoner had their likenesses taken "in one picture together." Tho prosecutrix accepted rings and jewelry from the prisoner. The prisoner had taken liborties with tlie prosecutrix before she resisted him, on both occasions' successfully.—The mother of the prosecutrix gave corroborativo testimony. —The case had not concluded when our reporter left.