ALLEGED CRIMINAL ASSAULT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4992, 3 April 1895, Page 2

ALLEGED CRIMINAL ASSAULT.

6CHENELLE BEFORE THE COURT. i\ At the Master.'oa S.M, Coatfc this 'morning, Henry James■ Sohenelle was charged with criminally j assaulting Fanny Wallis, domestio servant, residing at Mr Peirin's Lincoln Road, '

The Benoh was occupied by Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., and Mr W, H, Beetham, J.P. •

The Court was cleared Indirection of the Bench;

Fanny Wallis gave evidence that accused-when he came to the- door of Mr Pei .'ill's house on Monday—- | said he was a pianoforte tunor, and I asked if they had a piano iu the house. Witness replied that'they only had an organ. Accused asked to bo allowed to look at it. Witness said Mr Perm might not like it. Accused replied, " Oh he won't mind " and walked in. He then took out a music chart and after showing it to witness placed it o'u the otfß Before entering the house acclll asked if the "missus" was in. Witness replied that neither'' Mr nor Mrs Pen-in were in. After putting the chart on the organ, accused played the instrument, and then turned round and caught witness by the band, saying "He would like to be sweethearts." Accused then assaulted her. Witness screamed and tried to repulse the accused, bat was unable to do so. Later he attempted a second assault but was deterred by the baker's boy who came round. Accused left her, hearing the footsteps. Witness went out to the baker and took a small loaf of bread and said: "Good day." Accused pickefi up his portmanteau and went on the verandah before witness went to the back door to the baker. After putting the'loaf in .the kitchen and staying there jjgfe little time witness wont to clojßfljf front door, when she found accuser standing about half-way down the passage with his portmanteau in his hand. _ He spoke to witness and asked if she was going out at night. She said she, did not go out at night, Accused replied, "Ohdocomeoutat about half-past seven." She made no reply, and accused left the house. When Mrs Pen-in returned at about half-past five and asked if anybody had called, witness told her that a very insulting piano tuner had been, and told what had happened. When Mr Pen-in came home, he asked if she would like the man arrested. Subsequently eke went to the Police Station, with Mr Pen-in and gave particulars to Sergeant McArdle, aud identified accused. Witness had wished to give an alarm when assaulted but lost her voice and could not, Her voice ca.ne back just before the baker came. Would swear she resisted the accused,

By Mr Pownall: Was 19 rars old, and single. Did all the }s■. hold work and washing, her occupation being that of an ordincy servant Had not noticed any key in the door of the room. Accused weutoutof therooraon the veran-

dah, (when the baker called) a step in front of witness, who went to tha back door. When she came back from the door accused said, "Oh d—it, It's only the bakor!" Witness did not like to say anything U the baker's assistant, and Bha thought the accused had gone. Did not tell accused it was the baker boy at the back door, the accused | could hear him call. Witness told the accused she would call Mr Mit-

chell, the carpenter, who was working at the back. Did not think to call Mr Mitchell when the accused as-

saulted her the first time, this was bocausoshe lost all presence of mind. Would have told Mrs Perrin whether she had asked or jpt. Did not like to seek asiisjffir because she did not like people to know. When the accußed said he would like them to be sweethearts she did not say anything, The door of the room was open. Did not try to pull her hand from accused or to leave the room, because she loßt hor presence of mind. Her clothes did not presesta disarranged appearance when she went to the baker boy, they were slightly ruffled, She resisted violently when assaulted. There waß nothing in the room knocked over or broken. After tho accused had gone she put everything straight I that was put out of order. This mi before lira Perrin returned. Sb.6 was too frnjMeDed to leave theroom because, tba .amati m\g\vt \m taken something. The accused made some remark about her bedroom after the baker had been, and after ft time she pointed out her room at the end of tho passage facing thejjtat door, He asked to see the beelHs at the same time that, he askedTer to walk out with him,' She did not remember saying that Bhe refused to go into the bedroom because Mr Perrin might come home and find them, She could not remember what took place in the passage, At this stage the Court adjourned until 2 p.m.