INDECENCY ALLEGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20077, 25 October 1939, Page 8

INDECENCY ALLEGED

CASE FROM TE KARAKA PENSIONER FOR TRIAL A war pensioner, William Dutton, aged 57, was committed to the next session of the Supreme Court in Gisborne for trial when he appeared this morning before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Police Court on a charge of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old Maori girl in Te Karaka on October 8.

On behalf of the accused, Mr. D. C. Purdie pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. The case for the police was conducted by DetectiveSergeant R. H. Waterson.

The mother of the child said her daughter was 12 years old. She heard something on October 11 that made her inquire if the girl had been to Dutton’s place and then learned of the alleged offence.

The girl, who said she had known Dutton since she was small, described visits to his house and the receipt of money.' One day he gave her a shilling, laid her on the bed, and committed the alleged offence. A married woman said that during recent months she had noticed that

several small children were accustomed to visit Dutton frequently. Detective-Sergeant Waterson said that on October 20 he interviewed the accused, who denied the charge that he had been interfering with young children. He said he was fond of children, gave them money, and kissed them. No application was made for bail.