BEHAVIOR IN DOORWAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1181, 19 July 1928, Page 7

BEHAVIOR IN DOORWAY

Serious Charge Against Elderly Dunedin Resident

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative.) Suspicious behavior m a doorway has led to the arrest of John William Ashworth Chadwick, a middle-aged man, of Dunedin. Pleading notjfuilty to a charge of indecently assaulting a male, he now awaits trial before the higher tribunal. '

THE charge related to an incident m Dowling Street on October 10, 1926, as a consequence of which the accused was brought before Magistrate Bundle last week. . A further charge of attempting to commit suicide was withdrawn. , On the night m question, Chadwick, who, by the way, is a cripple, met a youth, then aged 16, at the Exchange corner, m the city, and suggested a walk. ; ; . The two repaired to Dowling Street, where beneath the shadows m a deep doorway they were interrupted by Acting-detective Jenvy. Chadwick was taken m charge, but gave an assumed name. v • The boy m the case, a plumber's apprentice, stated that accused was trembling, alb over ,

and asked' witness to kiss him.. ' Witness did so, but "could give no 1 reason, for his

action. ■ . • Chadwick, it 'was alleged, was very perturbed when the detective put In an appearance, and pleaded: "Have mercy on me and let the case drop. It will l'uin me and disgrace my family." Under cross-examination by Lawyer Alf. Hanlon, witness said he had told the court everything that took -place and had consented to it all. ; Acting-detective Jenvy said that immediately the" boy saw him he. broke away and said: "This man is trying to bribe me." Chadwick, m a statement, said he had been to a Salvation Army meeting and later met the boy. "Edwards kissed me and I replied: 'You kiss nicely.' " Jenvy' added that he thought the boy made the 'complaint through fear, i It-was said that Chadwick's reason for giving a wrong name was because of some trouble he had experienced m the Queens-G ardens- three. years previously and he did not want to ruin

Chadwick's Plea

his business and bring disgrace .on his family. „ . " Two days later an entrance Avas forced to Chadwick's shop near the Gardens, and he was found lying on the floor with a wound m his throat and a razor beside the body. On the table was a note with the inscription: "Good-bye to all." He was -taken to hospital and two weeks later was admitted to the Seacliff c Mental Hospital. The methods adopted by the police were the subject of a tirade by Lawyer Hanlon who strongly deprecated the system of letting an accused man go so that more detectives could later wait on him and third degree him. Strong objection was taken by counsel to Chief-detective Cameron's at- . ; ___. tempt to rebut a

possible defence of innocent association. The evidence was t(^ the effect that

tnree years previously, Constable Kearton was on duty near the Queen's Gardens and found a man giving accused a thrashing for his alleged indecent conduct towards him. • l Chadwick, he said, had kissed him and made improper suggestions which the man actively resented. After considering the question of admissibility, however, the court decided that this evidence could not go m with the depositions. Lawyer Hanlon submitted that there was no case to answer as both accused and the. boy had been . consenting parties to a harmless bit of kissing and there was no suggestion of indecent actions or suggestions. x . Magistrate Bundle, however, "held that there was a prima facie case tq, answer and . Chadwick will have to stand his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court m Dunedin. ,- * He was admitted to bail m two small amounts. k .