PETONE SENSATION

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 74, 27 March 1923, Page 9

PETONE SENSATION

ALLEGED ASSAULT ON WOMAN.

A DESPERATE STRUGGLE. Before Mr. James Kerr. J. P., at the Petone Police Court on (Saturday (says the "Sow Zealand Times"), James Thomas ■founxton, fruit hawker, was charged with attempting to commit a serious otTi'iioe mi a young married -woman, residing on the Hutt road, Petone. I The evidence was to the effect that at 1.30 p.m. on Thursday Inst the young woman whs alone in her house when a man called there hawking fruit and. vegetables. . She stiid that she did not want anything. He asked her if her mother whs in, and she said " No." I Then he asked her if her father was in/ and, on her replying " Xo " to that also,' he, it is alleged', edged his way into] the kitchen, and seizing hold of her attempted to commit the ollenee with which ho was charged. A violent struggle ensued, in which the young woman was knocked about a "ood deal; but his evil intent was frustrated and he decamped. The mutter was reported to the police, and Constables Parry and Morrison made immediate inquiries', as the result of which Johnson was accosted by them in Wellington on Friday. On the application of the police Johnston was remanded until the 29th

instant, bail being refused