INDECENT ASSAULT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1931, Page 8

INDECENT ASSAULT

PRISONER POSED AS A DOCTOR. HAMILTON, March 3. Joseph Pollard Tattam, a middleaged man, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court this afternoon to a charge of indecently assaulting a young woman at Matamata. , The Crown Prosecutor said that in October last accused rode into Alataimua, calling on Air Duxliehl, jun., representing that lie bad been asked to call by a friend of Duxliehl s. He remained with the family for a time, representing that he was a doctor. He ivrstiaded the young lady at the house to allow herself to he examined. Upon M'iv Hip charge of indecent assault was based. cd why she let the !icc"s' (1 amino her alone in the bedroom, the girl, in evidence, said he was alwa; i lung lier something was wrong w her. The defence contended that there was no case to go to a jury. His Honor said that it a young woman gave consent to an exaniinatie on a false representation that the prisoner was a doctor, the consent was not one which the law took cognisance of. He would not hold tor moment that a. man who, by reason id a false- representation that he was a doctor was able to handle the body el a voman was not guilty of an inde •eat act. There was no doubt that the woman consented to the examination. She said the prisoner acted as a gentleman. ’Hie Crown held, however. that the prisoner obtained the right to examine the woman by a false representation. The jury returned a verdict ol guilty.