MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 137, 1 December 1911, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

ALLEGED IXDECEXT ASSAULT. A young man named Clias Blundell Lumsden, junr., a waggon driver, was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning with indecently assaulting a young woman at Tataraimaka on Wednesday, November 22. 1011. Senr.,-Sergeant Dart, who prosecuted, outlined the case. Accused, who was not defended by counsel, did not cross-examine any of the witnesses. The first witness called was the young lady (who is of high respectability), who deposed that she resided with her brothers on a farm at Tataraimaka. The house was about MXh-ds from the Main South road, and the milking shed 20yds from the house. At about 7.1'5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22, she remembered accused coming to the shed and asking to see her brother Jim. She told hi in that he wa.s awav, but would be back that night, but that her other brother was homo. Accused said, "Halloa Jack! I have not see you for a long time." To which her brother replied that he was always there. During this conversation' she was milking, and her brother went away, leaving her and accused in the shed.' He made a remark about the weather, to which she replied. On finishing milking she got up and let the cow loose, picked up her buckets with a view to carrying them jO the milk stand. She was passing accused when he attempted to commit the assault. She started screaming for her brother John and struggled, and ultimately got away. For milking purposes she was wearing men's boots, and in the struggle these came off. Accused sii.id. "Don't be sillv; what are you screaming like that for?" Witness ran out of the shed without her boots. Accused went to his waggon and drove away. Witness at once complained to her brother, but did not like to tell him :1 11 that occurred. She had never previously spoken to (he accused, and did not ev-'ii know his name. Next day she came into N'eu- Plymouth a*d informed tin- poliee. Her brother gave corroborative evidence.

Senior-Sergeant Dart. sworn, deposed that lie 11n<I served a summons on the accused at 11 a.m. and the 27th inst.. when lm was ti-i'ding his horses just off St. Auhvn street.

The accused wns then formally chanred and pleaded not jruiltv of assault, lmt that he was of insult. This was taken as a plea of not guilty. Accused reserved his defence and was «ominit.(ed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, to he held in New Plymouth aliout March next. P>ail was allowed accused in his own veoojftiNances for C.»O. and one surety of C") 0 and two of C2.~.