SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

CASE -OP ASSAULT

Tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) presided over yesterday's sitting of the Supreme. Court. Herbert William Gough, aged about 21 "years, ".was charged with, having attempt-ed-by means of some drug to stupefy a girl; with intent to commit a crime. He was' alternately charged with assault with intent, and with common assault. Mr. P. W. Jackson,,defended. Jfr'. ?.. S. K. Macassey, Crown Proseqiilor, said that the accused was on the Town Belt on May 17. A girl of 14 with 1 a dog was nearby, aud the accueed spoke to her. He asked if she would liko some mushroome. Tho girl replied that she would riot, unless the accused gave them to her at once. The accused first caught I hold of l(he dog, and would not -let it go. Then he tried to catch hold of the girl; who ran away, but tripped and fell. While tho girl was lying on the ground the. aoouoed produced a bottle contain-: ing what was probably chloroform. He shook it 'op, and put his hand over her face. She struggled, and when ihe succeeded'in freeing herself she went to a neighbouring house. The owner of the house,, who saw her, would say that her lips were bleeding, the skin of her face appeared to have been irritated, and she was crying. The girl later easily identified £ue.accused, and ho was arrested. ■ Evidence , on the lines of that led in the lower court,was given for the prosecution. The-d«fence coneisted in an allegation that the accused never molested the girl jilt afl, and knew nothing; of the matter. The prisoner gave evidence in support of- the statement, and' his mother and sister ■ denied that he had ever worn a suit, of-the kind that the girl had described him a's wearing. . , The jury returned a verdict that the prisonor was guilty of common assault. Tho prisoner was remanded till to-day for sentence. ALLEGED BREACH OF OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT PRISONER ACQUITTED. George Skone, an able seaman formerly employed on a transport, was charged with having secured information, which might have been used in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Slate. Mr. H. P. O'Leary defended. It was alleged for the prosecution that Skone had, while cleaning out the chartroom, opened a drawer, found the position book, and made a written copy of entriee in it. This constituted an offence under the Official Secrets Act. Prisoner admitted making a copy, but said that he did so only with the object of settling a. discussion in the forecastle as to how far 6outh the boat was runSeveral seamen employed on the transport gave evidence for the defence. The jury found' the prisoner not guilty and recommended that in future posit'ou books should be kept locked up. Hie Honour said that he agreed with the recommendation, and also with the verdict. Prisoner had acted foolishly, and the prosecution would be iv lesson to him.