UNUSUAL CASE

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1922, Page 8

UNUSUAL CASE

ANDERSON V. DRAPER

CASE FOR DEFENCE.

The case for the defence was commenced to-day in the case of Anderson v. Draper in which the plaintiff Violet Jjily May Anderson sued Edward Draper for £750 damages for alleged ■indecent assault. The parties are resident in the Pah&utanui district, and engaged in the farming industry. The case for the plaintiff was that the defendant in his own house, while she and her husband were, on a visit there on 18th December la«t, attempted an indecent assault on her. His Honour Mr. Justice Reed was on the Bench. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the; plaintiff, and Mr. H. .. O'Lcary for the defence. The case for tho plaintiff was closed yesterday afternoon and to-day counsel outlined the case for the defence, which was to the effect that Mrs. Anderson had really no claim against the defendant.' Evidence was given by the defendant . Edward Draper, aged 42, to the same 'effect aa that of the plaintiff's up to the point where Mrs. "Anderson" entered his bedroom. Witness warned- her not to come in. She said she would go and look if her husband was coming. She went out and came back, saying that her husband was not coming. She came in and sat down on the bed. >, Witness sat beside her", further away from the door, and put his arm round her waist. That was all. Mr. Anderson then came in through the open door. Anderson said he would shoot the two of them. Witness did not answer. Mrs. Anderson said while he was put : "He'll kill me." Anderson came back with the broom and hit her on the head with it. Mrs. Anderson went as quickly as she could after being struck with the broken handle of the broom. The fight then proceeded as described until neighbours came. ' ■ In cross-examination the witness generally denied the statements made by the plaintiff and her husband. He knew Anderson was a very jealous man.

( Further evidence was jriven by Mrs. Irene Galloway, nearest neighbour of the Draper's, who said that Mrs. Anderson hid herself in the pantry when Anderson came over after the fight. Mrs. Anderson had told her that Anderson had caught Draper with his arms, about her. Evidence was also given by Daniel Galloway, who described the latter stage of the fight between Anderson and Draper. Witness put an end to it. Draper had on a tweed pair of trousers, with braces and shirt and boots like a man going to work. Mrs. Anderson had told him her husband was a very jealous man. She did not complain of being assaulted by Draper, who, she said, was quite all right. Draper bore a good reputation, j In cross-examination, witness said he had nothing, at;all to say against Mrs. Anderson. He admitted coming down with the Drapers in. their car to town and interviewing defendant's solicitors. He did not tell Draper he had won the case for him. He might have had half-a-dozen whiskies that'day. John Galloway recalled, stated that during the fight Draper was wearing tweed trousers. This closed the evidence for the defence. • (Proceeding.)