STRUCK WITH BOTTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 264, 7 November 1932, Page 3

STRUCK WITH BOTTLE.

WOMAN SHOPKEEPER. YOUNG MAN FOR TRIAL MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT. Raymond Leslie Boreham, aged 26, carpenter, appeared in the Police Court, before Mr. W. R. MeKean, S.M., this morning, charged with assaulting Ethel Marteusen, so as to cause actual bodily harm, on Otrtober 22, and,, further, that on the aame date, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, he did actual bodily harm to Ethel Martensen.

Detective Sergeant Kelly prosecuted, and Mr. Duggan appeared for accused.

Ethel Martensen, who keeps a confectionery shop in Symonds Street, said accused called at her shop at 2.10 p.m. on October 22 and wanted her to take a "double" on horse races at Auckland. He had a double chart showing the odds to be £0 10/ to 2/. At first witness refused, but later she selected a double and paid accused 2/. He had previously visited the shop, when witness bought an art union ticket from him. He asked her to take another double, , and she consented. It was £C> to 2/. Boreham then ordered tea, and witness went into the kitchen to prepare afternoon tea, accused going into the tearooms. A few minutes later he called out for some writing paper,, and. witness handed him a writing pad. He returned to the tearooms and wrote down the names of the horses.

"After he handed me the piece of paper the next thing I remember was that he hit me on the head with a bottle," continued Mrs.- Martensen. "He - struck me on the top of the head and I screamed. He then tried to choke me, to stop me from screaming. He had both hands around my neck. He let me go when I stopped screaming and he ran out towards the front door. I followed him. He came back into the shop and said, 'I did not do it.' He then ran through the shop and escaped through the back door."

Witness identified a bloodstained dress as the one ehc wae wearing at the time.

Did you give him any provocation for this assault? —No, I thought he was going to rob the till.

Dr. J. W. Maskell said Mrs. Martensen had a scalp wound on the top of the head about two inches in length. Man Jumped Over Fence. Mrs. Frances McElwain stated that while ehe was standing on the back verandah of her house she saw a man jump over a fence. He came from the back of one of the shops. She recognised tho jnan as Boreham, whom she had known. Witness asked him what he had done. Boreham said "Nothing." "I said to him, 'You have. Look at the blood on your hands/" added witness, Boreham told her he had to go and see a lady and jumped over the fence. A schoolboy, aged 12, said that at 2.30 p.m. on October 22 he saw accused jump over a fence. He came from the back of a block of shops in Symonds Street, and had blood on his hands. Statement Volunteered. Detective John Hunt said he searched the shop shortly after the assault and found a lemonade bottle (produced) in a corner of the kitchen. There were pools of blood in the shop and in the kitchen. Later he saw Borehain and took him to tho detective office, where he volunteered to make a statement. Boreham was given a pen and paper, and wrote and, signed a lengthy statement. In this he said, inter alia, "If I hadn't been under the influence of liquor thie would never have happened. I am sorry for what I did, and in making thie statement to the police I wish to clear the matter up."

Accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme Court for 'trial.

Mr. Duggan said that previously bail of £150 had been granted. He asked that that amount be reduced and the conditions in regard to reporting to the police made more strict.

Mr. MeKean: I certainly will not reduce the bail. Accused admits the assault in his statement, but sets out. certain circumstances, in mitigation, by making allegations against this woman, which Ido not believe at all. In fact. I do not thjnk this is a case in which bail should tie granted. It was a brutal assault.