ASSAULT CH ARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1932, Page 5

ASSAULT CH ARGE

FLAT DENIALS

ATTACK UPON A CHINAMAN.

fper Press Association— Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, July 29,

Flat denials that they visited a Chinese premises, with the motive of robbery,'and allegations that they had been induced, to make a written statement to Detective iHayhurst, in which they were alleged, to have admitted guilt on the promise that a girl would not b e brought into the case, were made by Albert Ernest O'-ifton, aged 22, and Leonard Humphreys, aged 23, on trial at the I ;'Supreme Court, before Mr Justice a jury, on a charge of assau’ting .and robbing Ah lLai at his premises, Piri e Street, on. July 15. v

They further alleged in the witnessbox that their purpose in going to the shop was to warn the Chinese from associating with white girls. In cros'-j-exnmination, the girl who had been referred to as “Peggy” Johnstone, and who gave her name as .Margaret Johnstone, aft e r first denying it. admitted that she had been living with Humphreys as man and wife. She was at Ah Lai’s place that night.

Summing tip, His HonOr criticised th 8 defence and the al'egaticms made against the detective and eeid that the case assumed, a serious aspect, be•cause of the very gross charge that had been made against Detective Hay- • hurst. ,

Clifton and Humphreys were found guilty of assaulting Ah Lai, so as to cause actual bodily harm, and. with assaulting Lai. The jury disagreed on the most serious charge, that of robbery with violence. Sentence was deferred.