A SORDID STORY

Evening Star, Issue 23273, 23 May 1939, Page 13

A SORDID STORY

CHARGE AGAINST MAN AND WIFE [Pen United Press Association.] HASTINGS, May 22. “ There is no doubt that from start to finish this man and his wife were in concert, laying the foundation for the commission of the offence. It is a sordid, horrible story.” In these words the Crown Prosecutor (Mr H. B. Lusk) addressed the jury in the Supreme Court at Napier this morning when opening the case against Donald Arnott and Margaret Minnie Ethel Arnott on charges of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl aged 13 years 11 months, at Twyford, Hastings, last January. Reference to the unusual spectacle of seeing a-wife charged with her husband with unlawful carnal knowledge of ii girl was made by Mr Lusk, who explained that the law provided that anyone who assisted in the commission of an offence was equally guilty. Doth the accused pleaded not guilty, and they were represented by Mr H. R. Bannister. Mr Justice Smith presided. 'Eight witnesses were called by the Crown, and the case for the prosecution was concluded late this afternoon. .The girl against whom the offence was

alleged to have been committed described how she first met Mr and Mrs Arnott at Otahuhu, ‘near Auckland. Later they moved to Hawke’s Bay, and in January she was. invited, with a younger sister, to stay with them for the school holidays. Witness said that some time after she had been there Mrs Arnott told witness that she (Mrs

Arnott) was in a delicate condition, and made a certain suggestion. Witness then described- the various events .which formed the basis of the charges. Medical evidence was then given, during which counsel for the defence conducted a technical cross-examination. The hearing was adjourned until to* morrow morning.