THE PATEA RAPE CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 67, 18 February 1884, Page 3

THE PATEA RAPE CASE.

Latest Particulars.

(W.ingßimi Chronicle) At the Police Court, Patea, on Saturduy last William Cunningham, 50, described as an old soldier, but well : known as an incorrigible publichouse loafer, was brought up before his Worship, the Mayor on a charge^ of rape on a girl between eight and nine years, pf age, name. l Emily Meyer. The pd'liee- being hardly m it position to proceed with the evidence the prisoner was remanded until the following Tuesday, and on Saturday afternoon he was taken down to Wanganui Gaol. The circumstances of the case are' as follows :— A little after 7 o'clock on Thursday night Mr Roche, the Patera, station-master/ who had very kindly^ adopted the child, sent her on a message to Mrs .'Rpche, who was at a neighbor's house some 200 yards from the railway station.:- It was broad daylight when the girl started, anil fully an hour before she returned.serirch ha vin g .been made for her m the meantime l>y both Mr and Mrs Roche, who djecame alarmed at her prolonged absence. On he» return the girl stated that a man had given her money, taken her into the scrub, and actually committed the capital; offence. Mr Eoche, finding that the girl r who appears to be cool and hardened, gave a disgustingly minute account of "the supposed outrage, took her. with, him after the offender, whom he caiigU crossing the bridge, and handed him over to the police. There is no -doubt from the medical evidence that rape has been | committed -on the 'child, •' though whether by the prisoner or not" it ' Would he premature to say. Cunningham, who is a Rome* hat repulsive grey-headed man, is welUknown at Patea, and by acting m the capacity of spy anu\ informant upon Sunday trildifag'-lias proved himself a terror to the local publican*. The girl's father is a labourer, believed to be working somewhere m the Rangitikei, and hermother is m a lunatic asylum. She lias two elder sisters, but- the-..repnta--tion of the whole, family -does not stand high.,- The. statements made by the girl to JMr Roche and, to the police reveal an amount of unblushing depravity which m these days of State schobbaricl^ehurch building is painful to record.