LESSON FOR ROMEO

NZ Truth, Issue 1261, 30 January 1930, Page 6

LESSON FOR ROMEO

Annoyed Girl Who |.. Was Alone (From "N.Z. Truth's" Pukekohe Rep.) "T CANNOT disbelieve the evidence of '■*• the girl. Accused apparently became offensive and .got hold of her by the hand. Young women must be | protected against even minor assaults." These comments were made by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., when fining a young man whose name he subsequently suppressed; at\ Pukekohe recently. ! A single woman, formerly employed as a domestic, told the court that during the absence of her employers accused 'called at the farmhouse. Finding that she was alone, he invited her into the ; house, but she refused. . "~ According to the woman's story, he endeavored to coax her in.', and then j caught her by the hand. # She broke away from his grip, but remained talking for about half an hour. He also i made improper suggestions: ' In reply to Mr. Hi V. B. Townsend, counsel for the man, the young woman said she could not explain why she did not- shut the door m accused's, face. j "I suppose the natural thing for a [girl to do ; m such circumstances would be to slap his face," commented the bench. j . Accused, m evidence, denied the assault and the allegation that, he made improper suggestions. He admitted asking the girl to go for a ride m his motor lorry. Sergeant Cowan: Is it not a prac- | tice of yours to make improper suggestions to young women m the district?— No. Tiie young man was fined £3 with costs totalling £3. After a strong plea by counsel, Mr. Woodward agreed to the suppression of accused's name, his mother being m a precarious state of health and his previous character being good.