REMOVAL OF ARM

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 12

REMOVAL OF ARM

ANSWER TO CHARGE

JURY ACQUITS ACCUSE*

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PALMERSTON N,, This &&>

It is not often that an accused* petSafl is asked to remove an arm, but whef' I John George Coulson, a travelling drapery'salesman, charged in ' the Supreme Court today with indecently assaulting a girl, aged ten, received thig unusual request from his counsel, h« readily complied, his arm being an artificial one." With the limb in hia hand, counsel approached the, girl in the witness box and asked her if that had been the arm which "had been used in the alleged offence. The girl' had to admit that it was not, despite the fact that a minute or two before she had informed the Court that the accused had, while still driving along the road, stretched out his left arm and hand to interfere■•with-her.

The jury saw that the artificial aria .which the accused had removed was the left one. . •

• No evidence was called for the defence, but counsel for Coulson, addressing the jury, asked how accused could drive a car with his one good arm and also do with', the- stiff left artificial one what.the girl alleged.

The jury returned with a verdict of not guilty and accused was dischargecl with the following advice from .the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers: "Knowing what you know and what I know, I venture to suggest that in future you do not give little girls a lift in your car."