MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ASSAULT ,UPON A GIRL

YOUTH ADMITTED TO PROBATION

Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M, heard tlic police cases ut the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A charge of having assaulted a girl 12 years of age, on June 15, was alleged against 11 youthful sailor named Martin James Eyles, for whom Mr. .11. F. O'Leary nppeired. J inspector Mursack, who .proseculcd, in outlining the case, staled that the girl was staying at a boardinghouse in Hopper Street, and tho young man was also living there at tho time. The girl slept on a couch in the diningroom, and on the night of the information, between 10 and 11 o'clock, she heard some 0110 moving about the room. A tmv minutes later sho. was- seized by the shoulders, upon which she screamed, and the man, who was alleged to be accused, decamped. It was afterwards found that -the accused was not in his room, (but his boots and flocks were there. About 1 o'clock in the morning accused was noticed to creep back to tho house, and when questioned as to his actions, said, "What are you going to charge me with?" Ho made a second statement to tho effect that he had felt uneasy - during the night, and had gone down to the Basin Reserve. Inspector Mursack. added that accused was 'seen returning to the house, but in a different direction from the Basin Reserve. , After evidence had been heard in support of the charge accused declined to go info the witness box, but. his counsel said it was quite evident some one took hold of the girl. Probably it was the youth, who was under the influence of liquor. ' His Worship said the evidence was so clear that only most complete explanation from the accused could have been accepted. Had accused been a grown man he would have regarded the offence as a very serious one, but he did not wish 'to send a boy of 17 to prison. There had been ho attempt to interfere further with tho girl, so he would deal leniently with i the accused. "I hope 1 am not taking a serious risk with you," remarked His Worship to accused, "but you will'be convicted and admitted to'probation for two years." An order was also mado prohibiting the accused from touching intoxicating liquor for a period of two years. Alfred Edward Maturin was fined .£3, in default 11 days imprisonment, on a charge of being disorderly while drunk in Lambton Quay.- Inspector Marsack said that before accused was arrested he was amusing . himself by catching hold of passers-by. Just prior to being taken into custody ho caught hold or a young woman and pulled her about. Frederick O'Dea, on a charge of being drunk in tlie bar of the Central Hotel, was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. On a similar charge a first offender was ordered to forfeit the amount of his bail, 20s. . For insobriety, Thomas' Matthews was fined 20s, and ordered to be prohibited, and Daniel Murphy was fined 10s, in default 18 hours' imprisonment. One first offender had tho amount of hjs bTiil, 20s, estreated, and two others we're each fined ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonriiont.