"DRUNK AT THE TIME."

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 8

"DRUNK AT THE TIME."

MAN WANDERS INTO HOUSE.

AND ASSAULTS GIRL.

AFTERWARDS LED TO ARREST.

Gertrude Fountain, a girl of 18 summers," who lives with her mother in Bank Street,.was alone in the house early last evening when Charles Leander Elmbranch (35) knocked at the front door. What occurred subsequently was detailed, at the Police Court this morning, when Elmbranch appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., charged with being drunk in Wellesley Street and also with having assaulted the girl. "I was drunk at the time and do not remember anything at all," was the way he pleaded. Miss Fountain said that she told accused that her mother was away, but he forced his way in the front door and went inside with her. He then put his arms round her waist and kissed her. She struggled to free herself of his grip and then commenced to .wash the dishes. Elmbranch helped her to wash up, although he did so against her wishes. Witness said that, she thought that she would get rid of Elmbranch by telling him that she would accompany him to the pictures. So she went.into a bed-; room to change her clothes.'' Accused, she then alleged, came into • the room, slammed the door, and lay, on the bed. He made an improper suggestion to her. Eventually she left the house with him and walked toward'the police station, so that she could give him in : charge. However, she could not find the' police station, but in Wellesley, Street she met two constables and placed . Elmbranch under arrest. Witness added .that v she never gave accused any .'encouragement. Mr, Hunt: Have you ever; met" him before! —I have seen him before in the street. It was one night when' I was waiting for my* young man, and he approached me. I called a constable, but after the constable left he again returned and spoke to me. Constable O'Brien, who arrested accused, said that Elmbranch worked at a factory near where the girl lived. When asked if he had anything to say, Elmbranch repeated that he was drunk and remembered nothing about the matter at aIL Mr. Hunt: It's lucky for you that you are not charged with a more serious offence. Mr. C. A. Snedden, solicitor, who was in Court, then told the magistrate that he had known accused several years ago when he. played cricket. According to Mr. Snedden, Elmbranch was a decent, respectable man, and that evidently drink was his trouble. "Decent and respectable to do what he did last night?" observed Mr. Hunt. Mr. Hunt told accused to take out a< prohibition order. He would be fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment. "There was no need to assault the girl. Just you see in future that you behave yourself," added the magistrate.