AN EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 919, 28 November 1879, Page 3

AN EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.

At Adelaide, on the 4th instant, Henry Edward Downer, commissioner of Insolvency, was charged with indecently assaulting Eliza Rogers, wife of Joseph lingers, in his private room at the local court. The occurrence took place on the IGlh October, and the cause of the delay in hearing the complaint was owing to the Ministry having been appealed to before criminal proceedings were taken. Rogers had been sent to prison for twelve months for fraudulent insolvency, and his health failing, his wife went to tuo commissioner and begged him to release Rogers After some inquiry by the medical olfi. era, the commissioner ordered Rogers’ release. It was during this interview- that the alleged offence was committed The commissioner w6s said to ha veto kissed Mrs Rogers twice, and sought to make an appointment to meet her on another occasion. The prosecuting counsel was 11 r Villeneuve Smith, who some time ago was imprisoned for libelling Commissioner Downer. Mr Charles Mann, counsel for the defence, said the case was one of conspiracy, and the most impudent attempt to extort money he ever knew. The Bench dismissed the case without calling witnesses for the defence. The case lasted nearly all day, and created great excitement.