CRIMINAL SESSIONS.—YESTERDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 127, 30 May 1901, Page 2

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.—YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr Justice Conolly.)

ACQUITTED.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the case against Archibald Evcrid Thomson, charged with having attempted to commit rape on a little girl at Te Kopuru, and the prisoner was discharged.

ANOTHER CHARGE OF ASSAULT

A man named James Charles Sainsbury' pleaded not guilty to a charge of having on April 12th at Waiharera, near Kaitaia, indecently assaulted a Maori woman named Mini Karaka. Mr J. R. Reed defended the accused, and Mr Tole conducted the prosecution.

Mini Karaka, a young native women, living at Waiharera, deposed that she was separated from her husband. The accused came to her house (where her father lived) on April .12, between seven and eight in the evening. A girl named Ani Peni was with her, and also witness's younger sisters. The prisoner came over to her as she sat on her bed nursing- her baby, and pulled her about. vShe got up and went over to the chimney, where accused came and indecently handled her.. She and her sister screamed out, and Ani went out to call her (Ani's) husband. When the prisoner heard Ani calling out for Peni he went outside and ran away. Cross-examined by Mr Reed, the witness said she had known the accused about a. year. He was a storekeeper at Waiharera. She and her people all dealt at his store. Her father owed prisoner about £17 for stores. Witness also owed him some money. She did not know whether Ani :tlso owed him money. She was in his store the day before the alleged assault; she was there with Peni's wife. She did not then invite him to come round and visit her at her house, Mr Ileed further cross-examined this witness at considerable length. Other evidence was adduced for the prosecution.