GIRL'S ACCUSATION

NZ Truth, Issue 1207, 17 January 1929, Page 1

GIRL'S ACCUSATION

Alleged Serious Offence

(From "N.Z. Truth's;" Special Wellington Kepreseiitative). V While his wife was -m a maternity home, Clarence' /Mcßae Gibson, a carpenter, livin_ at Wadestown, Wellington, engaged a young domestic servant to look after his children. It was not long* before she levelled a serious charge against him. .- x ; : .

ALL would probably have gone well, "been drinking heavily-' during the day had it not been for Gibson's' par- on which she alleged the' assault bok tiality for the whisky bottle. Hap- place..- ■'.;. ■'■".-,.[ : . ( -.- penings subsequent to the girl's ar- ' She had just been attending to the rival m his home led .to Gibson making baby, when Gibson molested her m an appearance .m the Wellington the passage of- the home. He forced Police Court, when, before . Magistrate her into a room and attempted to m Page, he was charged with a serious terfere with her. " offence. „ She smacked his face and told Gibson, said the girl, m answer to him 'she refused, to stay m the • Acting Chief Detective Holmes, had \ house with a "hound": like him..--When she made her escape from his attentions she locked 'herself m the bathroom,. Ultimately lecting her bag and departing from the house. '.<• '■■'•'■ .•■-•'

; Detective Murray, who; > interviewed the accused, produced , a •.'-statement signed by- Gibson m- whi,ch' the. latter said he did not remember asking "the girl to cease her work and sit down. He had been drinking whisky and possibly methylate4 jspirits'. ; : Gibson's statement went on to '' relate that he could rio.t' recollect the circumstances^ under which the girl left' the 'house that evening, y He had an idea that heqiiarrelled with -her while looking fdr - his whisky. -He may have shaken the girl and -asked her what she had done with it. : "V .-.!. / . >. He wafs. drunk at the time and could not recollect swearing ,;at .the - girl' or forcing her into a room. ■ He had no recollection of any of the alleged happenings related by ,- the v girl, arid denied .attempting to coram it a n off ence. He admitted, going- mad when on '-.a drinking bout, and that he was drinking heavily oh the dqcasion m .question;: ■.;'.'. ' ■'■ '■■■ -' : '~ : :'"[ "■'■ .-" ' ■

Lawyer C. ; A. L. Treadwell, who appeared on Gibson's^ behalf, entered' a plea of not guilty. . / The bench committed Gibson to the February sittings of the Supreme Court for. trial.; Bail was allowed.