INDECENT ASSAULT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 2

INDECENT ASSAULT

Two Young Children the Victims LABOURER PLEADS GUILTY “Everything in the statement is true. I can’t do anything else but plead guilty, your Worship,” said William Thomas Stoneman, labourer, aged 38 years, who was charged with indecently assaulting two girls aged 8 and 9 years respectively at Koro Koro. He was referring to the statement which he had made to Detective F. N. Robinson, and which was read in court. Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., committed him to the Supreme Court for sentence. Detective-Sergeant T. Y. Hall, who conducted the case, stated that accused bad met the father of one of the girls at Petone on the afternoon of December 19, and had remained with him until early next morning, when he had taken him home and given him beJ and breakfast. Accused then took his benefactor’s daughter and a little girl who had been staying at the house to see Father Christmas. Later he took them to the Koro Koro hills, where, it was alleged, the offences had occurred. The father of one of the girls, who had come in search of them, approached accused, who thereupon ran and evaded capture, but, was later arrested by Detective Robinson and Detective W. Ritchie.

Further evidence was given, and in the statement made to Detective Robinson accused, who is married, stated that he must have lost his bead.