ADVERTISED FOR MODEL

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 134, 22 February 1923, Page 7

ADVERTISED FOR MODEL

GUILTY OF INDECENT ASSAULT. James Patrick O’Brien, formerly employed on a farm at- Hangatiki, but who described himself as having been “journalist, sailor, artist, and student of human nature,” appeared before His Honour Mr. Justice Hosking and a jury of twelve in the Supreme Coiuit yesterday, charged with having indecently assaulted a young girl. At the request of tho accused, who pleaded not guilty, His Honour assigned him Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson as t-oun-Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, outlining the case for the Crown, said that O’Brien had been in the Dominion tor some 8 months, and had worked on a farm at Hangatiki. He came to Wellington in December, and inserted auvortisoments locally for an artist s model and for a small office. the sister of the. girl in regard to whom tho prosecution was mndo anewcreu the advertisement, and O’Brien called at. her mother’s house in Brooklyn Ho there interviewed each girl alone in the drawing-room., the mother being in tho house. He . had taken measurements of their limbs, and it was then that the act complained ot was done. Ho made an appointment to meet the two girls at the wharf to go to Day’: Bay the following day, but tho younger girl having related to her mother the details of his conduct he was there met by constables and arrested. . The jury, after a retirement ot an hour and'a half, returned a verdict of guilty of indecent assault, anil Jlio prisoner was remanded until tins morning far sentixuco.