WAITARA ASSAULT CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1917, Page 2

WAITARA ASSAULT CASE.

"SCORCHER" JONES CHARGED A man named William James Jones, of Waitara,, was charged at the Magistrate's Court-yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., .with having indecently assaulted a Maori woman at Waitara.on March 28th. Senior-Sergeant Bowden prosecuted, and Mr. F. E. Wilson appeared for the accused. Mr. J. 11. Walker acted as interpreter. The senior-sergeant stated that the principal witness had b?en sunpoenaed but had not turned up, and he had reason to believe that all was not what it should be. He therefore asked that a warrant should be issued for the arrest of that witness, who could be brought before the Court in a couple <jf hours. Mr. F. E. Wilson suggested an adjournment until 2 p.m., but the Magistrate decided to go on with the case. Violet Rangi, aged 17,. also known as Numia, gave evidence that she was in. Waitara in company with Hin*. Hine and Hohipera, the latter being the wife of Tony Preston. The former was known as' May Rangi, and was witness' adopted sister, according to Maori custom. Witness, who resided in lluirangi, knew the accused as "scorcher." On the evening in question she saw him at his own stables, where he made an, iuauroper proposal to her and she ran away. When near Gardiner's Hotel she met her (.wo irie,nds. Accused ran up and caught hold of her by the shoulder. .She get behind her friend, but accused followed her and seized her by the dress (produced), which, was . t<j>rn.; .Witness then;, saw Constable Lapouple about five yards away. Witness toll accused she would let his wife know and also the police. Accused replied in Maori: "Do not tell." Afrs. Preston said: "That's ro goorl." Constable Lapouple askeel what was the trouhle, and witness told him that accused was endeavouring to take her away. Witness saw the accused arrested. Cross-examined: Witness did not ■know what time it wa.s, but it was well after dark. There were people about, and the hotel was open. Witness was angry but did not call out for help Some friends were, with-her.-- She did not call to Constable Lapouple. She saw him coming up. Accused was intoxicated at the time she went into the stable. The street was lighted at the scene of the alleged assault. Hine Hine, aged 14, gave evidence as to her sister running up to witness and Hohipera followed by accused, who caught her by the arm near the elbow. Her evidence was corroborative of the previous witness, save that she did not hear any remark made to the constable. After the luncheon adjournment, the witness Hohipora, for whose arrest a warrant had been issued, was present, and stated that she had missed the morning train. Her evidence was practically corroborative of the previous witnesses. After the assault, while'all were together, Constable La Pouple eamo up. Witness told him that accused had been acting wrongly. The accused then stood near a post four or five feet away. Accused said "Turitnri" and "Katia e Koreoio." He would not keep quiet when the policeman toli him. . The policeman Ihen took . him away. _ y Cross-examined, witness pushed accused aside, and Numia got behind her. Witness said "that work is no good." Constable La Pouple gave evidence that shortly after eight o'clock, when passing accused's livery stables, he heard some loud talking just ahead of him. and saw a man make a lunge towards (be boarded fence of the Club Hotel. Fie then ?uv the previous witnesses and accused, in the act of trying to catch hold of Numia, who was behind Hold-' peia. His evidence was then corroborative of that of the previous witnesses, right up to the time of the arrest. Accused used the words "Kana e korero" and "Turi Turi" several times. Witness asked him t okeep quiet, and accused would not. Accused was drunk, and was locked up on a charge of drunkenness, to which charge he pleaded guilty. Accused, formally charged, pleaded not guilty, and reserving his defence, was committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court, to be held at New Plymouth on May 14. Bail was allowed, self in £25 and one surety' of £25, or two of £12,105.