ATTEMPTED RAPE ALLEGED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28825, 20 February 1959, Page 12

ATTEMPTED RAPE ALLEGED

Accused Committed For Trial rNew Zeaiano Press AMoetatumi DUNEDIN, February 19. James Stephen Brook, a storeman, aged 31. was committed to the Supreme Court for trial when he pleaded not guilty fore Mr J. D. Willis. S.M., In the Magistrate’s Court today to a charge of attempted rape at Dunedin on January 28. A young man said that on January 21 he and hit fiancee went to St. Clair beach for e’ swim. When they returned from the water they found that his fiancee's watch and powder compact and his own wallet had been removed. The complainant described the circumstances of the thefts, and said , she advertised on January 26 for the watch and compact In answer to this she received a letter, which she showed to her fiance. The letter was such that they decided to take it to the police. By arrangement with the police she agreed to keep an appointment suggested in the letter, and at 8.40 p.m. on January 28 went by taxi to the gateway of the Montecillo Home. After 10 minutes she heard someone whistling. In accordance with instructions In the letter she acknowledged the third or fourth signal, and spoke to a person whose presence she could detect only by the glow ot a cigarette. She was asked If she had come alone, and answered that she had. A man then moved out from surrounding bush and stood beside a tree. A detective emerged from nearby and arrested the man. ’ Detective D. W. Warren described. how the accused was arrested, and said that the accused could give no explanation for being near the Montecillo Home except that he had

gone there to read a book. The witness produced examples of the accused’s handwriting, which he said was identical witt) that in the letter reerived by the complainant The accused, he said, had denied writing the letter or having anything to do with It.