SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 40, 15 February 1907, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued before. Mr. Justice Denniston yesterday, the Hon. J. A. Tole appearing for the Crown. CHARGE AGAINST A YOUTH. A charge of attempting to commit a criminal assault upon a girl under the age of 12 years was made against a youth named Claude Marmont, who was defended by Mr. J. R. Reed, and pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor outlined the case against the accused, which alleged that when the prosecutrix, a little girl of six, was going home from school at mid-day, she was invited by the prisoner to go for a ride in his coal cart. She left her companions and went with the prisoner to a half-burned house in Sussex-street, Grey Lynn. Marmont promised her twopence and attempted a serious assault, but desisted when she cried. He gave her a lead pencil, told her to go home, and warned her not to tell her mother. The evidence of tbe prosecutrix agreed with Mr. Tole's opening statement, and when cross-examined by 3dr. Reed she said the man who committed the offence wore a black coat and vest. When she identified him at the gaol he stood among six other persons, all bigger than himself. Mr. Reed's examination of other witnesses for the prosecution was mainly in regard to identification, and when the case for the Crown was complete Mr. Tole said he would agree to let the indictment go to the jury as indecent assault. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. Mr. Beed intimated that the defence was an alibi. He called the Rev. G. Edgell, home missionary in the Matamata district, who deposed that on the date of the alleged offence he had lunch in Mr. Marmont's house, and was able to state with certainty that the prisoner was in the house at 25 minutes to one o'clock. The accused's parents also gave evidence of similar character. Mrs. Marmont stated that immediately after hearing of the charge' she interviewed the little girl's mother, who said the offender had blue eyes and light hair, a description quite different from the accused. (Proceeding.)