ALLEGED ATTEMPTED RAPE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2843, 7 February 1925, Page 3

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED RAPE.

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. At the Palmerston N. Supreme Court; yesterday a young man, named John Lionel Perrin was charged with attempted rape on a girl of 20 years. An alternative charge of indcecni assa. ult was preferred. The girl’s evidence had been heard on the previous day. No evidence was given in defence. His Honour, summing up, said there was hardly any dispute as to what actually took jilaee, the whole question being the attitude of tlie girl. The statement made by-the accused to the police was not evidence, whereas the girl’s ' story had been corroborated in all tlie essential details by her mother, to whom she complained as soon as she arrived home. What the jury had to decide was whether the conduct of (he accused amounted to indecent assault. The evidence appeared to show that the girl had not consented; and His Honour questioned whether the accused’s statements bore the stamp of truth, suggesting that it was an cxe.use to extricate himself from his position. Even if the jury found that tlie evidence was insufficient to prove attempted rape, the evidence appeared to be quite clear that indecent assault had been committed. After a retirement of over three hours tLe jury returned with a verdict of not guilty on each count and the prisoner was discharged.