BRUTAL ASSAULT ON BEACH ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 947, 28 January 1911, Page 2

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON BEACH ROAD.

YOUNG GIRT ROUGHLY HANDLED. ASSAILANT BEFORE THE COURT. A serious assault was committed by a man upon a little girl on the Beach road on Thursday afternoon. It appears that three girls, the oldest of whom was 13 and the youngest xo, were making their way home from the Beach where they had been slaying with some relatives and rested on the roadside at the south end of the clay road. On either side of this road, looking towards Foxton, is a swamp in which raupo, toi toi and flax grow luxuriantly. From the vicinity a man appeared hatless and bootless and clothed in a dark suit. He accosted the girls who made off, the two youngest going towards Foxton and the oldest ran back in the direction of the Beach. The man pursued and caught the latter and half-dragged and half-carried her into the raupo. She struggled violently and her assailant seized her by the throat and threw her on her back. A passing cart caused the man to cease struggling and he prevented his victim from screaming, and threatened to choke her if she called out. After the cart passed on the man renewed bis brutal attack upon the unfortunate girl, and just as her strength was failing her a trap, occupied by two ladies and a gentleman came along from the direction in which the other children had run. The occupants of the vehicle had been informed what had happened by the other two children, and kept an eye on the swamp. They were attracted by the moving reeds and the male occupant ran to the spot. The girl’s assailant immediately made off on his hands and knees through the swamp. The driver of the cart came back and together they searched for the girl’s assailant but could see no trace of him. They, however, discovered a note book at the spot where the assault took place. The little girl, who was suffering greatly from shock and whose neck bore evidence of the rough handling she had been subjected to, was conveyed to her home and the police communicated with. The police were able to get a fairly accurate description of the man from the girl. Further identification was obtained by means of a small group photograph which was found enclosed in the note book. The girl picked out her assailant from among the group. The book also contained a certificate of discharge from the s.s. Haupiri at Wellington on 21st January. The name on the discharge sheet is E. A. Hamilton, and the age 21 years. The certificate bears “V.G.,”for conduct and ability. The book also contained other documents.

The police were assisted by a number of residents in searching the locality for the wanted man but he managed to elude them.

Yesterday morning a man was seen on one of the river punts at the wharf and was subsequently arrested by Constable Woods. When charged by the constable with attempted rape he stoutly denied knowing anything about it. He recognised the note book and its contents and said they were his property. The accused was placed with a number of other meu for the purpose of identification, and the three children, who were brought into the court separately, quickly identified him as the one who committed the assault. The accused was subsequently brought before Mr Horublow J.P., and charged by the police with attempting to commit rape. The police asked lor a remand to Palmererston at to a.m., on Monday next, which was granted.