STRUCK WITH BAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 91, 18 April 1929, Page 7

STRUCK WITH BAR.

MT. ALBERT SENSATION.

YOUNG WOMAN TELLS STORY.

SUSPECTED MAS CHARGED. IDENTIFIED IN COURT. Bertram James O'Coi.nor (->4K a painter, arrested on April 11 a? a suspect in connection with the assault upon a young woman in Western Springs Road, Mount Albert, on the night of March 2S. appeared at the Police Court this morning on a number of charges.

O'Connor, who was not representod by counsel, was charged that, with intending to do grievous bodily harm, he. assaulted Dorothy Jean Dumper on March 2S: with an indecent assault upon a girl aged 4} years, on March ol: with wilful and on-cene exposure in Recreation Reserve on

February 26: and with using obscene language in the same reserve on February 26.

Dorothy .lean Dumper, an unmarried woman. 20 years of age. residing at 30. Springfield Street. Morningside. said she alighted from a tram at Western Springs KoaJ at S>..V> p.m. on March 2S. She was carrying some parcels and «s 'he got to the corner of Western Spring? Koad and Mountain View Road she saw a man coming from the Momingside Reserve on her left. He came toward* her, when she obtained a clear view of his features because of a stroDg electric light nearby. The man was dressed in a light suit and wore a cap of similar colour pulled down over his face. She and the man were the only two {•ersons on the road at the time* Tinman followed her, walking clo=e behind. When she noticed that he was following her she stopped opposite Mr. 'iraham s hou-e. and, bending down, pretended to remove a stone from her shoe. 1 his was done with the object of letting the man pass her. \\ itness -aid that as she straightened herself up she received a blow on the head from the man who had followed her. The blow was struck with a piece of iron piping, which tnflicted a deep wound on the top of her head. She felt stunned, but screamed for help. At this time the man ran back towards the reserve. She was assisted by Mi. *raham into bis house, "where *he attended by Dr. (iraham Lindsav. '•Accu-ed is the man who assaulted me, said Mi-s Dumper. "The lieht at the corner was burning bri-htlv. and 1 had no difficulty in seeing hi* features.*; Witness w to shown a light suit bv Detective Servant Kellv. Thi* the said was similar to the suit 'worn bv the 'bmi, when he lollowed and assaulted her She also said that on April 11 she attended an identification parade at the detective office. From a number of men of different age. *ire»- and appearance she had no difficulty in ret-ojmjsing O'Connor as the man who assaulted her." Accused: \ou took a considerable time to make up your mind.—No I did not.

Accused: ou looked at everv mm very hard several times? Y~<-. " I*-n t it -trange. if you i-ou'd pick m. again, that you should take so Jong over it?— No. I do rot think so. stood opposite me until the detec tne came up. then you pointed at me' l es. Saturated with Blood. The next witness was Robert Grahan. a traveller, of Western Springs Roart hen sitting in his kitchen, about o clock on the night of the assault, h' heard a woman screaming. Going on' to the road he saw JJ:« Dumper £oinalong the street screaming, ealle< out to him. and he caught her as sh< nearly collapsed in hi- arms. Mi«" Dumper told him she had been struck oi the head by a man. who ran awav. Whei he first saw her. blood was running dowj her neck, and she was saturated witl blood to the waist. Frequented the Reserre. Elsi<? r> ° no - who nea the Mormngfcide Reserve, *aid she kner O Connor. She saw him on several occa sions in the playing area of the Morn ingside Reserve, sitting on a feat watch ing the children. Twice she saw hm swinging the children, mostlv girl« Tha' wa*l agt year. O'Connor* comment visiting the reserve in February of thi year. On one occasion she spoke to him Mrs. Ann Eadie. residing at Morning side Road, also knew O'Connor Her ~ar den was near the park and she frequently saw him in the reserve plaving wit J children. Sometimes lie would' ~o to th< reserve at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and remain until 6 or 7 p.m. On fiv, occasions during the school holidavs he arrived at the park as earlv as 7 auj Last February she saw him in the reserve playing with children on the swings. On the last occasion he waUiere OOannor was escorted from tb< reserve by witness' husband. She onh knew him on account of his attendin"the park. c Arrest of Accused. April 11, Detective Sergeant Doyj said, he interviewed O'Connor, and aske him where he was on the night Mis Dumper was assaulted. Accused replied I was home that night. My wife wen to the hospital. I knew about tb aseault. for I read it in the papers! Detective Serpant Doyle said ot the appeared in anv new. paper until accused was arrested on th. charge When arretted O'Connor wa dressed in a bine *erjre suit. He wa placed in a line with seven other men a the detective office, when ML* Dumpidentified him a? the man who assanlt*. her. All the men $ traded without thej hats. Accused was afterwards charge' with the The cert rooming," a the Police Court, O'Connor said to witness "I made a mistake when I said-' was home on Thursday. March 2?. Jwas on the Friday night I remained a home to allow the wife to fro to th. hospital. I was at church on the day night." Witness vkited accused's hot** 0 , / i I 1 took possession of x sni of clothas Which he claimed m his pre perty.

(Proceeding.)