RAETIHI SENSATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1921, Page 6

RAETIHI SENSATION.

ASSAULT MYSTERY SOLVED. The mystery surrounding the assault on a young woman at Pakahi on Wednesday evening last and the alleged assault and theft of £2OO from the person of a young man to whom the lady was engaged, was cleared up at the Magistrate’s Court, Raetihi, on Monday. The charge was read by Constable McCowan, who prosecuted, and was one of assauP ing Miss Lucy Hodges, on the night of November 2 with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Taking into

consideration the state of the accused’s health, Constable McCowan asked that the charge be reduced to one of common assault. He stated that accused (Anderson Pruce Aitcheson) was in a bad state oi health and was in need of medical attention. He (accused) had ’ agreed to be dealt with by the court, I ami no good purpose could be gained by committing him to the Supreirie Court. The charge was accordingly altered and accused pleaded guilty. Constable McCowan stated that accused was working at Rangiwaca and came to Raetihi in order to make arrangements for his wedding with his young lady- It was reported he received a telegram, alleged to have been sent by one named John West, stating that if he came to Raetihi £2OO owing by West would be paid over. Accused was’reported to have located his man in Raetihi and then proceeded Jpme. When about a quarter of a mile from the house of the young lady’s parents the girl was struck on the head from behind. Later the accused said he had been struck and robbed. Afterwards he was able to get off the ground and he and the young lady proceeded home and when inside the house he exclaimed: •‘Oh, ’my God, all through me!” He (accused) then went out of the house and was afterwards found in a state of collapse near by. Proceeding, Constable McCowan said there appeared to be no one else about and accused’s story about being carried by two men and thrown in the river was a fabrication. About an hour after the happening he saw accused and his clothes were wet. Thp matter had ended lightly. He produced a piece of three by two timber about three feet long, which had been found about 20 yards away. On it was hair which corresponded with that of the young lady. Medical evidence went to show that the wound was done with a blunt instrument. The story of the £2OO had got on his nerves and the young man was in need of protection from himself. West could not bo found anywhere, -and he considered it was a trnnipeu up story. After a few minutes’ deliberation, the accused was sentenced to two monliis’ imprisonment. On hearing the sentence the n<-■ is -d collapsed and had to be carried ba<k to the cell.—Call.