LITTLE CHILD OUTRAGED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2003, 15 July 1919, Page 3

LITTLE CHILD OUTRAGED.

One of the most terrible outrages that has been recorded in connection with crime in New Zealand took place at Petonc on Saturday evening, when a little child was violated in a revolting manner, says the Tim-

The circumstances, as far as could be ascertained, were as follow: —At 5 o’clock on Saturday, the mother of a little girl and boy, aged nine years and eight years respectively, sent her children with a message to their grandfather’s house. The message was duly delivered, and the children were returning to their homo, Avhen they were spoken to by a man, who, after a brief conversation, asked them if they would like some lollies. The man then went into a confectioner’s shop, purchased some sweets, and divided them between the girl and her brother. The man then gave the boy some money, and directed him to go to a fruiterer’s, and told him to buy some apples. As soon as the boy was out of sight the man asked the girl to show him whore the doctor lived.. The child complied with the request, and on arrival at the doctor’s residence the man then asked to be shown where the entrance to the recreation ground was. The park in question was only two streets away, and after walking a short distance the man picked the child up and carried her. On entering the recreation ground he made his way to the grandstand, placed the girl on a seat, tied her hands, placed a cloth which she was carrying oyer her face, struck her ovef the head until she was insensible, 1 and then outraged her. In the meantime, the little boy returned to the spot whore he had left his sister, and, being unable to find her, went home and informed her parents. Thinking the child had lost her way, as it was then dai’k, and the town was enveloped with a. thick, misty rain, the father of the girl communicated with the police. Senior-Sergeant Bird, who had just returned from duty at Trentham, immediately organised a search party, but their services were nbt required, as the girl had found her wav home.

Investigations wore made in every likely quarter, with the result that at midnight a strongly-built young man named Roy Albert Delaney was arrested.

Accused was brought to Wellington, where-he was lodged in prison. Delaney has been formally charged with the offeree, and remanded for a week. «