GRAVE CHARGE FAILS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3806, 16 June 1928, Page 2

GRAVE CHARGE FAILS.

JUDGE’S CAUTION TO JURY. Hamilton, June 15. In a case in which a middle-aged man, Jeremiah O’Connell, a farmer, of Ivopaki, was charged with assaulting a girl of 5£ years, for whose father he previously worked ,I'or some time, Mr. Justice Blair cautioned the jury that it would be <xceedingly dangerous for them to convict on the uncorroborated evidence of a girl .of eight regarding the offences which allegedly took place three years before. His Honour expressed the opinion from the manner in which the girl gave evidence that, probably the charge was the outcome of imagination, or that the story had been prompted by somebody who bore O’Connell a grudge. A doctor had stated that the girl’s present condition must have been the result of interference in the past six months, at the very longest. Furthermore, the girl had related certain incidents which allegedly occurred in a bathroom, whereas it was proved beyond doubt that the bathroom was not built until at least twelve months after the prisoner had given up living there. A verdict of not guilty was returned. '