Assault on a Child.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 76, 22 February 1883, Page 2

Assault on a Child.

A case not unlike m gi^eral features the Longhurst case,- adranc-d a first stag* at the. Wanganui R.aT. Court yesterday. The accused, a young niau named Jowott, and also known ii Wooihead, was auested at Prlmereton on a charge of criminally ajsaultintf * SJrl named Ethel Stubba, daughter of S e i. i"!f r I f C3n8 * c of the Ben **•«• Hotel , Tarakma. Much of the evidence elicited was unfit for publication, but them s ;iu facU ara as follows :— The prisoner had been boarding for a 1 few days at Mr Stubb's house m th» Avenue, and on tfe./ Year's night he w.nt out, saying he was going totthe tram to meet the Hdy he was engagV to and her mother, who wire oomiujf fi m W.yerley. Sub.equently, bUweeS 8 and 9 o'olwk. Mra Stubbs, (who Lad prsnoxLtlj told the prisoner wh^^ha was gomg), accompanied by he*- eldeit son, went off to the Fancy Payre lciving m the house the little irirl and two younger chtldrea all m be?, The 'charge i 8 that, during the mother's abvmc*. the pusouer and asked for a light ; that the girl Ethel got up to get him one, and went iuto hn bedroom, where he committed upon h?r the offence m question, a c.ime Which, m the pre33nt ca.se, was attended with re/oltmg and unmentionable conwquences. ' ■ -• : , . .. : . ,-> •■..,> •■ The child; who gar* intelligent etidemce, and seemed a quiet, innocent little girl, answered satisfactorily as to her comprehension of an oath,an<i stated thai sheened a little when the offence wai committed, though it did not appear that she had cried one at all. Constable Gellispie arwsted the prisoner at "PalmcrVon at noon oh the Ucti : instant. : He was then m bed ii a house balonging to the Maoris, and denijd that his name wa? either Jowett or Woodhead, but stated that it was Wood. He was takon to, the lack-up where he made several important statemeuts. He s*id that the ttae »;ate df the case was that lw left Stubbs' house on the night of the Ist Januarj, -hating no intention to return, but that afor* wards he remembered that he had left a gold pin f ticking m ..the wall at the head of his bsd. When he got back to the house it was dark, and he called to the girl to get up'and bring him a light, 6he went iato his rjom, and spoke and asted m a way which the prisoner intimated was an invitation to , him |o i commit impropriety. He told the child i to go out of the rooiajj or she 1 would get her and him m i/oiible. He then turned her out of the roem, but nerxir touched her beyond that, He reserred his defence, and was committed for trial at the April" sittings "of the Supreme oourt. He applied" for baif, arid H» Worship agread to grant it, himself ia £300, and two suretees of £150 each. The ptitfohftr remarked that it was too much, and was remoted m cußtody.