MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 132, 4 May 1940, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Evidence rvas heard in the Magistrate’s Court, throughout yesterday, m continuation of the case against Eugene Charles McCarthy, there being nine charges preferred. Five alleged indecent assault, tw r o alleged attempted indecent assault, one ciiarge was of conversion of a cycle and one of assuming the designation of a member of tlie Police Force. Messrs G. M. llanson and. W. G. Ashworth, J.P.’s, were on the Bench. In respect of the charge that, on December 2, accused assumed the designation of a member of the Police Force, accused pleaded not guilty. Lawrence S. Chalk gave evidence that on the evening of December 2 he was wmlking along Broadway Avenue in company with a girl and Richard Harvey. A man cycled past and then returned, accusing the trio of riding their cycles on the footpath. Witness gave his name and address. He could, smell liquor on the man, who said he was going to take the girl to the police station. Later, witness picked out accused at an identification parade as the man who had stopped them. This evidence was corroborated by the girl concerned, who related that accused had said he was taking her to a constable’s place, at Terrace End. Witness refused to go on when in Brightwater Terrace, but the man said she would be arrested if she did not go with him. Eventually witness ran away, to a nearby house. Witness was knocked down by the man when she was on the road and attempting to run away. She now knew accused as the man referred to. Richard Harvey 'gave corroborative evidence as to the three being Mopped and accused saying he was taking the girl “to the station,” giving an explanation that he was a policeman. Witness did not believe the man was a policeman, because he was not broad enough nor tall enough. The man was i Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the forthcoming sessions of the Supreme Court for trial on the five charges of indecent assault, two of attempted indecent assault, one of another alleged serious offence, one of conversion of a cycle to his own use and one of the theft of a cycle. On the charge of assuming the designation of a police constable he was remanded sine die, an indication being given that the bearing would be brought on after the Supreme Court trial.