“DEPLORABLE”

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20498, 14 May 1938, Page 8

“DEPLORABLE”

YOUNG M ,V 8 ASSAULT WOMAN MOTORIST MOLESTED “AN UNGRATEFUL SCOUNDREL” (By Telegraph.—Press Association) ROTORUA, Saturday “This is a very deplorable offence and you are a very ungrateful scoundrel. You were walking along the road out of work, tired and hungry. This kind young woman comes along and gives you a ride for 100 miles and then you endeavour to interfere with her. " Is that the only gratitude you can show?” These were the remarks of the Bench, Messrs \V. L. Richards and 0. H. Coleman, J.’sP., when sentencing John Robinson alias Desmond Halliday (19), labourer, of no fixed abode, when ne appeared in the Rotorua Police Court this morning charged with assault of a married woman of Whakatane and attempting to steal £4 7s Gd in money, the property of complainant. F. Keane. Accused pleaded guilty to the charge of theft and not guilty on the assault count. He was represented bv Mr J. Senior-Sergeant E. J. Carroll, who prosecuted, outlining the facts, said Mrs Coburn was motoring from Talhape to Rotorua and at National Park she saw the accused on the roadside. She offered him a lift and after proceeding 100 miles and about one mile on the Taupo side of the Waiotapu Hotel, accused, without warning, suddenly turned off the ignition and took the keys. Threats by Accused In evidence Mrs Coburn described the efforts made by accused indecently to assault her, stating that he threatened first to strangle her and then to shoot her unless she consented to do what he asked. Realising the danger she was in, witness played for time by attempting to bribe accused with money but without avail. Just as he dragged her from the car another car appeared round the corner and accused made off into the scrub with the keys. He later appeared and said “you win.” The motorist took the accused to the Waiotapu Hotel from whence the police were informed. He was later arrested and taken to Rotorua. Ernest Xutall Willoughby, of the Public Works Department, Tauranga, who drove along the road shortly after the Incident, also gave evidence, stating that he took accused to a hotel to await the police. Three Months’ Imprisonment Police evidence was given by Constable James J. Quirke, who obtained a statement which accused refused to sign. The defence was a denial of the attempt ai indecent assault. Senior-Sergeant Carroll: Don’t you think you are a cad the way you behaved to this woman who had been so good to you? Are you not ashamed to call yourself a man? Accused: Yes.

After hearing evidence the Bench amended the charge to one of aggravated assault and sentenced the accused to three months’ imprisonment. He was convicted and discharged on the charge of theft.