POLICE OFFICE. June 26, 1846. Before H. St. Hill, Esq., P. M.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 95, 27 June 1846, Page 3

POLICE OFFICE. June 26, 1846. Before H. St. Hill, Esq., P. M.

Hodges, a private of the 99th Regt., was charged with having committed a rape on the person of Ann Cording, on Tuesday evening, the 23d ult. Ann Cording deposed that she was a widow, and housekeeper to Mr. Brandon ; on Tuesday evening last, between the hours of eight and nine o'clock, she was returning from the house of Mr. Blathwayt, beyond Te Aro ; when she arrived near the gaol at Wellington she lost

her way, and sat down on some flax bushes thinking that sime person would pass that way ; soon afterwards she heard voices, and then called out Police ; a man came up and offered his arm, and when about twenty yards on the road to Wellington, he asked her if she had any money ; she told him that any thing he might demand for putting her on the right road, if he would ' call the next day at Mr. Brandon's he should be paid ; he then knocked her down, and put his knee upon her breast and drew from his side a bayonet, and told her if she called out he would kill her ; and then accomplished his purpose. She was then dragged to the flax swamp knee deep and left there ; she lost her shoes, and with great difficulty reached the windmill, where she met with every attention from Mr. Hoggard. Corporal Graham and other witnesses corroborated the evidence of the complainant, and proved that the prisoner was the person who had committed the outrage. The prisoner made no defence, and was fully committed to take his trial at the next Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court.