MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 July 1919, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S CO URT.

(Before Messr§"Aldridgc ' McLenn?an, Justices.) ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT. Timothy Picard Christian, on remand was charged with committing an indecent assault -on a girl under eleven years of age, on the Taihape Recreation Grounds, en the evening of 21st July. Sergeant Matthews asked that the Court be cleared, which was accordingly done. A little girl ofse-ven years, on whom the assault is alleged to ‘have been committed,‘ gave‘ evidence. She was in the recreation jgrounds with-an-i other girl when accused _“took‘ them away. She'ga’vc "details of thelassiault alleged to have becncommitted, land‘ identified accused as the man ' who committeddthe alleged assalut. ‘ ‘Another; little girl, 8‘ years of age,‘ said she was”'a companion ‘of the'previous witness, and was with her when accused accosted them. "She corroborated the previous witness’s evidence, and identified the accused as the man who spoke to them. The mother of the first witness gave evidence as to the condition of the child, and her statements subsequent to the time of the alleged assault. Constable Geraghty gave evidence as to the arrest of accused at Winiata, on 22nd. When charged with the offence accused said he was in the park, saw plenty of girls, but‘ did not molest anyone. On 23rd-, when ?confrontdd with accused, complainant picked out accused from a dozen men. and the second witness identified accused rm; the man who had taken complaint away. ‘Accused, in a rambling way, crossexamined the witness, during which he claimed that he had been persecuted by the police on previous occasions.‘ Sergt. Matthews also gave evidence. ‘This was the case for the prosecurtion. 7 " - Accused, who did not call anyMcVidence, pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. Accused was committed for trial at this next sittings" of‘, ‘the ‘Supreme Court at VVanganui, on August 25th.