SERIOUS OFFENCE ADMITTED.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 241, 14 June 1928, Page 4

SERIOUS OFFENCE ADMITTED.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. A charge of having committed a serious offence against a girl of 19 years of age was preferred against Robert David Jeffrey, of Turanga-o-moana, a probationer, in the Matamata Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, when Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., presided. An order was made for the suppression of the witness’ names. Mr. G. G. Bell appeared for the accused, and Constable Mathieson conducted the case for the police.

The girl in question stated that she was 19 years of age and was employed at Turanga-o-moana. She had met a companion and set out to cycle to Waharoa to attend the pictures. The two had gone a short distance when they had noticed someone following them. It was a young man. They left to return home a little after 10 o’clock. After having gone a little distance the man in the dock came up. The three were cycling along and witness’ companion said to the rr.an: “ Who are you?” He continued to cycle along. One of the girls asked who owned a certain house, and the accused replied “ Boss’ sisters.” Later they alighted from their machines and accused asked if he could see witness home and she gave a negative reply. He again asked her if he could accompany here and caught hold of her around the waist. Witness had told her companion to go and get a stick. The other girl did so and gave it to witness, who hit accused. He continued to hold her and her companion also hit him. This continued for about quarter or half of an hour. Witness then instructed her companion to go and get her father, and she went, but didn’t come back again. Accused had his hands on her all the time, and finally she consented to let him accompany her home. She did so with the idea of getting away from him. She next jumped oil to her cycle and rode off as fast as she could. Accused followed. She got off her cycle at the gate of the house where she lived, and was halfway up the drive when accused came up to her and caught, hold of her. She then called out to her employer. It was then that the alleged offence took place. She had cried out. Afterwards accused said that he was sorry, and offered her some money. It was about 12.45 a.m. when she got home.

The medical evidence was to the effect that there were several bruises on both arms and both sides of the neck. Corroborative evidence of the alleged offence was given by a school girl. Constable Mathieson, giving evidence, stated that he went after the accused, who denied knowledge of the offence, but later at the police station accused said he might as well tell the whole truth and be done with it. He then made a statement in which hd stated that he had been in similar trouble before and was still under the charge of the Welfare Officer. The statement admitting the offence was read. Mr. Bell entered a plea of guilty, and the accused was committed to the Hamilton Supreme Court for sentence.