AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3523, 10 April 1880, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

This day. The Auckland Birthday Re-

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The Mormon Elders. The mortality among fish along the coast is increasing. Theory that it is attributable to the eruption on White Island is doubted, because dead fish have been found at too great a distance. The Thames rolunteers will be asked to attend the birthday review. A copy of the Salt Lake Tribune received here strongly denounces the Mormon Elders who visited New Zealand. It says one is an expelled Mason, the next j an atheist, and last a fraud. < Yesterday. : The Indecent Assault Case. Stephen Edward Hughes was arraigned upon an indictment charging him with having, on the 17th December last, indecently assaulted Mary Jane Saxon, a girl of 15 years. i The prisoner pleaded not guilt/. I The following evidence was taken :■ — Mary Jane Saxon, daughter, of Joseph Saxon, deposed : la December last I was in the employ of the prisoner as domestic servant. On Wednesday, the 17th of December, Mrs Hughes left the house between 11 and 12 in the morning for the purpose of visiting a friend. Mr Hughes was writing in the dining room, but he left soon afterwards for his bedroom in order to dress. He called for some shaving water and I took it to the door where I placed it on the floor. He said " Come here, I want to tell you something." I said " No, tell me here." He said "Oh, come here," but I did not answer him again. Then I proceeded into the hall to sweep it. I had just closed the front door for the purpose of sweeping behind it when Mr Hughes, who must have stolen silently out of his bedroom, seized me suddenly from behind and carried me to his bed, upon which he placed me. He then attempted an indecent offence. [The witness here stated the particulars.] I was unable to scream. At length the prisoner released me, and I went out to Tom, the gardener. Mrs Hughes returned about three o'clock, and I at onoe made a complaint to her. She was the first female I had seen since Mr Hughes assaulted me. On the following day I told my mother, and the reason I did not tell her sooner is because Mrs Hughes asked me not to tell anyone. In consequence of what I told my mother she accompanied me back to Mrs Hughes when the three of us had a conversation together. My father and mother had a conversation together, and then the three of us went back to Mr Hughes', whom we saw with Mrs Hughes. Father asked Mr Hughes what he meant by doing that (the offence) to me, Father said he would give him in charge, and afterwards he stated he would take me to the* doctor. Mr Hughes then asked him to call back again like » man and let him know the

result. We then went to the doctor's, and in returning home my father called in again at Mr Hughes'. Cross-examined by Mr Tyler: My age will be 16 years on the Ist of July. I wbs in Mr Hughes' employ aa a general servant 7 months and two weeks before this event took place. Before the occasion referred to, Mr Hughes had never indecently conducted himself towards me either in act or word. I had often been left in the house with him, both by night and day. There were occasions on which Mrs Hughes had slept away from the house. During all this time I had made no advances to Mr Hughes—done nothing to lead him to believe that I would be favourable to any approach he should make. Neither had I in his presence behaved either immodestly or improperly. A man-servant had been sent away from the house because I complained that he had put his arm round my waist. I did not scream when Mr Hughes seized me because I could not—he caught me up so suddenly. I do not know whether I struggled or whether I fainted after I had been placed on the bed. I was taken for examination to the doctor's by my father. Mr Hughes did not suggest such a course. We went first to Dr Dawson's, but he wasn't in, then we went to Dr Stockwell, who examined me. My father however, was not pleased with what this doctor said, and so he took me to Dr Wine, who examined me. Lateb, This day. The jury last night acquitted Stephen Hughes, charged with indecent assault. There is strong public feeling on the subject.