A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 273, 17 November 1922, Page 8

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

ctjmmittai/for trial. (By Telejrraoh.-Own Correspondent.) iWAIHI, Thursday. In the Police Court to-day, before Mr. W. M. Wailnutt and Mr. Murray, Justices of the Peace, a young man named Archibald Merry, was charged on remand, with committing a serious offence at Waihi on a young single woman of 19. .Sergeant Edwards represented the police and Mr. Clendon appeared for accused. Complainant in evidence said that when proceeding home after the pictures accused followed and asked her to come into the scrub. Witness refused, whereupon accused picket! her up, taking her into the scrub. Complainant resisted and screamed, but the alleged offence was committed. Considerable argument ensued on tihe ques tion of admissibility of evidence in regard to a complaint made by com plainant and elicited by her sister-in-law and mother. Authorities were quoted b} the sergeant and counsel to support th< respective arguments. The Bene! decided that owing to considerable con Diet on the question of the admissibi lity of this class of evidence, and thai each case should be considered on iti merits the evidence was admissible (holding that a judge should decide the point of the case when sent for trial counsel's objection being noted. Doctor Short said that in his opinioi undue force had been used upon com plainant. After a considerable, amount of evidence had been adduced, counsel for accused addressed the court, sub mitting the plea of consent. The Bencl said they were not satisfied on this point and decided to commit accused for tria to the Supreme Court in Hamilton or December 5. Bail was allowed accused of £200, and two sureties of £100 each