INDECENT ASSAULT ALLEGED

Evening Star, Issue 19786, 9 February 1928, Page 10

INDECENT ASSAULT ALLEGED

CASE ADJOURNED TILL FRIDAY In the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon John Miller pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent assault', alleged to have been committed on or about October 29, at Owaka, upon young girls. There were also two charges of ordinary assault against accused. , Mr C. J. L. White appeared lor accused, who pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr F. B. Adams) said that in respect to each girl there was a charge of indecent assault, and one of. common assault, ' making tour counts in all. One girl was aged six years and the other seven. It was alleged that accused, who was a farm laborer, called the little girls to the side of the road and there committed the offence.. Accused had made a statement in which lie said he spoke to the girls, but denied having put his hands on them. A number of witnesses gave evidence for the Crown. Mr White called tho accused, who said he had lived at Owaka for many voars. On the day the assault was alleged to have taken place he was working with his b.other at half-past 1. Lie had four dogs with him, and they ran along the road after some rabbits. H-> saw tbc two children coming along the road, and he went along and called Ids dogs in. He told the girls to move on, as” the dogs might bite them. Lie did not interfere with the girls. He then wont hack and joined his brother. To Mr Adams: Lie had made a statc.thc dog would not bite them. Thomas Henry Miller, farm laborer, said bo was a brother of the accused. He beard the dogs barking. He was at the sledge, about 20yds down a hollow. His brother was away from him for about a couple of minutes. To Mr Adams: Lie had made a_ statement to Constable Dark, in which lie said that his brother was not out of Ins sight all day. Witness admitted nndei’Gxamination that there was a bump on the ground, and be could not sec bis brother all tbc time. Lie did not sec the girls coining, along the road. His Honor: In your signed stale■mont yon said yon saw two little girls cuing up tbc road. ” Witjiess said that his brother told him thev were on tho mad. His Honor: His statement is based on what his brother told him. Further hearing wars adjourned till Friday morning.