RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 634, 10 February 1870, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Tuesday, Feb. 8. (Before W. H. Re veil, Esq., R..M.) CRIMINAL ASSAULT. Charles Hassett was, at the instance of Rebecca Jobnstone, charged with having assaulted her iv the bush on the afternoon of Monday last. Rebecca Johnstoue^ being sworn, deposed : I am the daughter of John Johnston, residing in Greymouth. 1 am 15 years of age. 1 am nurse girl to Mr Masters. I was ou t With the baby yesterday afternoon, about half-past three o'clock. I was gathering flowers in the bush behind Mr Masters' garden. It was near to Mr Johnston's fence. There was a girl, Lizzie Thomas, with me. I saw the accused there. He asked us if we were looking for eggs. He said the little boys came and gathered them all. I said no, that I was looking for flowers. He said there were plenty where he was standing. He was down in a hollow. I gave Lizzie Thomas the baby, and went down to get them. 1 said they were too high for me to reach then. He told me he would get them for me. As soon as I went down he caught hold of me round the waist and kissed me twice. I put up my hands to my face to keep him off ; he told me n->t to do that. I did not then scream. He then commenced to push me into the bush, upon which I screamed out, Lizzie Thomas arid Mr Johnstone heard me. Mr Johnstone spoke to him. The accused then gave me some flowers, and asked me if I would have any more. I said no, and he then left me, and went into the scrub. He remained a little time after Mr Johnstone called out. I have seen him before. There were some tents there but no road. Cross-examined : Lizzie Thomas wrson the top of the bank keeping the baby. The man came part of the way up the bank and told me about the flowers. Lizzie Thomas could not see me when I was in. the hollow. , I am certain it was the prisoner. He picked some flowers for me, but not before he kissed me. I did not scyeani out then. I screamed out whe.n he tried to pull me down further. If/ he had done no more than kiss me I would not have called out. 1 would only have gone home and told of it! I took the flowers from the:accused. I told Mr Johnstone what had taken place. The prisoner was still there, and Mr Johnston asked him what he jw.as doing. He replied that 1 had been falling over some supplejacks and had screamed out. I did not fall over any. I was pushed down, and my ear was hurfc^and bleeding. James Johnston being sworn, deposed : Between 4 aud 5 o'clock on Monday after noon, I was at the back of my cottage. 1 saw a girl with a child on.abauk. 1 heard screams, and on asking what was the matter was told that a man had Mr Masters' servant in the bush. I called out "Scoundrel, villain, what are you doing there ? Come out, sir. " The man then made his appearance. I asked him who he was, and he replied that he waa working on the road. lam certain the prisoner is the man. Cross-examined : What I first heard was a shrill scream from the bush. It was not from the girl on the bank. She vaid to me, lt For Goodness sake go into the bush ; ]V'r Master's servant is there ■ with a man." „ • : W. H. Jar. es deposed to the apprehen- : sion of the pr soner, and having measured i his boots wilh- the footprints at the spot ; where the struggle took place. : The prisontr on being asked what he had to say f( r himself, merely replied, "that he was sorry he was there at all." The Magistrate, in summing up, commented very strongly upon the prisoner's * conduct, ar.d told him that had the charge been laid vnder a different indictment, 1 that is with intent, he would most cer- ' tainly have committed him for trial. As J it was he w< uld: give him the most severe ' sentence the law allowed him— namely, two months' imprisonment with hard J labor. 1