Justices' Court.

Manawatu Herald, 8 October 1898, Page 3

Justices' Court.

This Day. (Before E. S. Thynne and Alf. Fraser, V Esqs., J's.P.) Hans Christeansan was charged that on the sth October, 1898, at Foxton, he did assault a certain female, to wit one Ethel Liddell, by placing his hand over her mouth and by placing his fingers in her mouth. The other charge was withdrawn. The accused pleaded guilty. The following evidence was taken : — Ethel Liddell, being sworn, saith, I am 13 years old. I saw accused on Wednesday morning at 10.30 in our top paddock near the railway line. I was picking up kindling wood. The accused came up to me from the direction of Mr Duncan's paddock, and said " Hullo Cissy." He put his hand over my mouth, and his, left arm round my shoulders. I pulled his hand away from my mouth. He put a finger in my mouth and I bit it. I then managed to get away from him. I ran towards home aud met the two Allen s

by the Lawn Tennis Court corner, j asked them if they had seen a man. told my mother about the assault. My mouth is sore now. By the Court — I did not see the accused coming until he spoke to me, I had not spoken to him. Margaret Liddell, the mother of the laßt ■witness said, my daughter came home sobbing, and then she said a man bad put his hand over her mouth down the bank, and that lie had put his finger into her mouth and she had bit him. Blood was issuing from her mouth and nose. I then went for the police. The aooused, declining to be sworn, aaid I was down in the paddock on Tuesday afternoon haviag something to eat, and Some children annoyed me. I pretended to chase them and they ran away. One Wednesday morning I was down on the railway line and I saw Ethel Liddell in the Eaddock and 1 thought as I could not catch er yesterday I would catoh her to-day, and I caught her by the arm and gave her a slap on the mouth with the back of her hand and she collared my finger. Albert Shadbolt said, that Ethel Liddell was not in the paddook on Tuesday afternoon. Ido not know who the girls in the paddook were. I was in the paddock. I with other boys were annoying the scoused. The girls did not go down near him, nor did they throw stones or call out at him. The Bench administered a caution, and fined the acoused £1 or 14 days imprisonment.