WOMAN v. EVANGELIST.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8792, 20 April 1907, Page 2

WOMAN v. EVANGELIST.

Alleged Clasp and a Kiss. The Plea of Moral Character Disregarded. Per Press Association. Ashburton, April 10. During the past week a good deal of interest has boon taken in a case affecting an evangelist who for fully six weeks has been conducting religious services in tho town, known as the Ham.lton Garmong Mission. Tho case was heard at Court to-day, when O. E. Hamilton was charged before two Justices with having on March 22nd at the house of a married woman, Louisa Nesbit, committed an unlawful assault. The assault consisted in defendant going to tho house of complainant and without her consent placing his arm round her waist and kissing her. Defendant gave an absolute denial to tho, accusation and called John Galt, Mayor of Mataura, and Bov "W. J. Hastie, of Dunedin, to give evidence as to character.

T n giving judgment, tho Bench said: “ As the case is for an assault, the question of the moral character of the plaintiff has nothing to do with the case. Mrs Nesbit gave her evidence in a straightforward way and it was not shaken in cross-examination, and there is corroborative evidence that tho evidence has not been shaken at all. The defence evidently attach much weight to tho point that there has been conspiracy among tho four witnesses who gave evidence for the prosecution. We find evidence of no; such conspiracy. The sanctity of the home must be protected, and we are of opinion that an assault took place.” They lined defendant £5 and costs. Counsel for defendant a-ked leave for re-hoariug and appeal owing to the prominent position occupied by the defendant.