ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

NZ Truth, Issue 138, 8 February 1908, Page 4

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

Mckenzie and the children Dirty, Disgusting Acts Sworn To. The Accused is Sent for Trial. Recently a man named Roderick McKenzie, aged about 57 years, was arrested for committing an indecent assault on two little girls m v timber yard off Taranaki-street and Courtenay-place, Wellington. McKenzie is a laborer, unmarried, a native of Scotland, \?ho arrived from Queensland five or six rears ago, and had recently be.-n iMnploved on Corii Wat ion jobs. Though there wa.s personal contact, it is not sup nested that actual sexual inuuv was- inft^ 1"-

--cd on .^>he children. McKenzie was charged with the offence' on Wednesday. ' A little girl of eight years, who looked younger, said she lived with her mother at No. 23, Martin Square. On the morning of Thursday, January 27, her mother sent her to get some wood, and she was accompanied by two other little cirls. Who were sisters. The fuel was obtained down Lower Taranaki-street at the timber yard. McKenzie came up to them and said, "Will you come down to the wharf ? If you let me , I'll give you sevenpence." One child at first asked him for a penny, and that was how it started. Her sister ran away home. McKenzie crossed the road, and kept on calling the remaining children. They refused to go. The youngsters entered the rafd to get some Wood,- and they found McKenzie there. The brute said to them that he would give them sevenpence if they would permit him to commit an indecency with his hand. ONE CHILD CONSENTED, and the indecency took place, but there was contact with something else. McKenzie was sitting behind some timber, and the child's clothing was disarranged. The tampered-with child remarked to her sister, "Look what he's doing." After which she got off McKcnzie's lap. The strange animal of a man then gave her 6d and Id, and the other girl. got on his lap at his invitation. Mckenzie disarranged his own clothing to commit both indecencies, after the committal of which the children ran away. The first child said, "Give her sevenpence." He replied. "I would have to change £1." "Two days subsequently the two sisters went to the same place for wood, and saw McKenzie, who again asked, "Are you coming down to the wharf to have some fun ?" but nothing rude was perpetrated. Subsequently they were together at the same place, when he said, , "jHullo ; how are things doing ? Are you going down to the wharf." 'Tee. Andrews, who had been notified of McKenzie's behaviour, here stepped on the scene, and took charge or the alleged sex/maniac. His Worship (to accused) : Have you any questions to ask this witness ? Accused : I never saw these children m my life before. This is not the time to make a statement ; have you any questions ? —No, sir.A girl of six years gave corroborative evidence. Mrs Nor ah Cooksoh, mother of the last witness, stated that the child had returned with 7d m her possession, but a statement made by the child on the following day wasn't admissible m evidence. Mrs Scott, mother of another child, also heard on the following day what had occurred, and the police were informed. Detective Andrews stated that on January 29, at 2.30 p.m.. he saw McFeneie on the reclaimed land near the Taranaki-street wharf. He instructed the youngsters to go down and pass the man, WHEN ACCUSED ACCOSTED THEM, Mid accompanied them to the timber yard. He sat on some timber, while the girls returned. ... to the detective j.ncf said, he was the man who had committed the-, m decencies; Meanwhile McKenzie was beckoning to the children with his hand, and continued doing so as Andrews walked past him. The "demon" went up to accused and asked him if he was waiting for anyone. He said, "Yes." The 'Tec. asked "Who ?" He replied, a man named Jim Gordon, who was having a drink at the hotel. He said Gordon was workihg on the sceamCr Kamoana, but all hough the officer had since inquired for Gordon that individual couldn't he found. McKenzie was duly arrested, and was told the nature of the charge at the station. McKenzie then exclaimed: "Christ Allmiffhty, you can't do it. I was not there. I never did such a thing m my life." Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail m the sum of £150, or two sureties of £75 each, was allowed. ..