A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 245, 15 October 1889, Page 5

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

A guMDiGGEft named John Giles appeared at the Police Court this morning before Dr. Giles, R.M., to answer to the serious charge of assault with intent. The informant is a married woman named Margaret M. Johnnon, and the offence is alleged to have been attempted on the Bbh of October, at Brigham's Creek. ' When bhargod prisonersaid, " She struck me on the face, and I catched ab her." Inspector Broham said that the offence occurred in an out-of-the-way place, so that it would be desirable thab bhe case should be heard in Auckland. As the arresting constable had come aboub 40 miles, he would ask that his evidence should be taken, then he would not need to return to town, again. Constable Haddock deposed thab he was stationed at Warkworth. On the 11th inst. he went in pursuit of the prisoner. He overtook him on the road between Webster and Te Arai about 1 p.m. Witness asked his name, and he replied that-he had come from near Auckland, and thab his name was Ginnigar. Prisoner bhen .asked, "Are you a policeman?" Witness replied "Yes." Prisoner said that he thought of going into tho village and giving himself up to tho " Bobby." He also said, "I suppose you will take me dead or alive. I'll go wibh you, my name is Giles." He then asked witness, " What is the charge?" Witness replied, "Assault wibh intent." Prisoner also said that what he had attempted had been by arrangement, that Mrs Johnson came out of the houso and struck him, and thab be only pub his arms aboub her. Prisoner had marks on his face where he had been sbruck.

Mr Broham then asked that the case should be remanded until this day week, which was granted. The accused is a middle-aged man, and was digging gum at Lucas Creek. On Tuesday, the Bth inst., Mr Johnson, storekeeper ab Brigham's Creek, left for Auckland, leaving his wife ab home. Mrs Johnson asserbs that after dinner the accused came into the store and used improper language to her, and attempted to assault her. She gob a gun (unloaded) and pointed it through the window at accused, who went away. The man who worked about the store then returned from his dinner, and on being informed by Mrs Johnson of what had transpired, he went to Giles's hut, but found that he had gone and taken his things with him. Mrs Johnson wrote to Constable Foreman, of Helensville, and at his request laid an information against Giles. A warrant was issued, which was executed by Constable Haddock.