A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9115, 7 April 1908, Page 5

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Tress Association. Auckland, April 6. Richard Dyasou, chief officer of the U.S.S. Company’s Navua, appeared at the Police Court to-day on to answer to a charge of attempted criminal assault. Evidence was given by the alleged victim that he attempted to persuade her to go aboard the vessel on Sunday evening, March 29th, but on her refusal he dragged her up the gangway, along the deck, and up two flights of stairs to his cabin, where the alleged attempt was made. The girl contended that she was struggling and crying out the whole time, and that he threatened to throw her overboard if she did not keep quiet. Evidence was given by a foreman of wharf labourers that accused admitted to him next day that a nice girl came to see him on Sunday evenings, but that she had refused his proposals. Another witness for the prosecution, a wharf labourer, who was on the forward deck said he saw accused and a lady come along the wharf together and go on board in a friendly manner and up to the officer’s cabin. There was no suggestion of force and no screams were hoard from the cabin.

Sergeant Ramsay said when arresting accused he said there must be a mistake, as he was visiting some friends at Devonport at that time on the day in question. Auckland, April 7. The case was adjourned till tomorrow morning.

At the further hearing of the charge of assault upon a girl by the chief mate of the steamer Navua, the girl, recalled, said Sergt. Ramsay suggested immediately after the alleged assault, that she should be examined by a medical man but she declined because there were no marks to be seen on her body to warrant such examination.

The Magistrate (to witness) : You swore accused dragged yon up a gangway up two flights of steps, along the deck to his cabin, and then you say your wrist was not sore or marked from the result of such treatment? Witness: No, it was not.

The Magistrate remarked that it was strange this fact was not elicited yesterday. -