TAXI-DRIVER CHARGED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1920, Page 5

TAXI-DRIVER CHARGED

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

GREYMOUTH CASE.

GIRL’S EVIDENCE

Ruben Jensen appeared before Mr. T, E. Maunsell, S.ivt., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, in answer to a

charge of alleged indecent assault on a girl named Annie Hunt, aged 19 years on Saturday evening, August 7th at about 7.>50 p.m. Mr. W. Joyce appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty Annie Hunt, a gin of 19 years, said that she was employed by Dr. Johnson Cowper Street, and was in Greymouth oiVSaturday evening last with her mother and some friends. About ten minutes past nine she left her mother at the railway station. After the departure of the Blackball train she went along to see the 9.15 p.m. Hokitika train out. Erom the station she went to the motor-car stand to get a car. A man came along and said “Are you waiting for a car?” The man who addressed her was Jensen. To

the question she replied, “Yes, is this car for hire.” Accused opened the door of the car and she got in. Magistrate: Did the car have tw r o seats. Witness : Yes. Continuing witness said she got into the,back seat and said “Take me ditto Dr. Johnson.” Accused did not reply. The hood of the car was up, and the side screens were -closed. Accused drove the car and it struck a quarterpast nine as they approached the Post

Office. As they were driving along the accused said “We have had a miserable clay to-day haven’t we?'’ She replied : “Yes.” As they went along further the driver sa d “Where about does Dr. Johnson live.” She replied “Out Cowper Street,” just above Katlrburn’s corner, she said to the accused “You are taking me too far,” and he replied “Am I, my light are out. It is dull to-night and I can’t see very well.” There was nothing *at<l until he stopped the car. Defare they reached the Australasian Hotel accused said he would turn in a minute. He drove right on however. The lights on the car were now out and he eventually stopped the car and said “I will get some water for my 1 ghts here.” When he got out of the car he went into a paddock and witness thougne he got some water. He then started to fix up the light and she could smell the carbide. He got into the front seat but not in front of the steering wheel and said “It will take 5 or ten minutes before the lights are ready.” He then jumped over the back of the seat to where she was and put his arms around her and started to kiss her. While this was going on a car passed. She could not call out for he held her 100 tight and she was afraid she would not be heard. “Why do you cry, dear?” accused said to her when she commenced to cry. He then got into the front seat and drove on and she said “If you will only take me home,” Jensen replied “There is an hotel down here where I w.ll turn. ’ Soon afterwards he turned the car and got out again. He then went off the road and came back, to tlie lights again. Getting into the back seat with her again he puts his arms around her. She then caught hold of his hand and screamed out. He took his hand from, her knee and put it over her mouth. Later he got back to his own seat and drove back toward Greymouth. At Rathburn’s corner he got out to open the door to let her out. During the journey the wind screens wore tied down. "When she got out she handed him 2/- and he said “Oh that’s all right,” and did not take the money. said “Good night” and she walked to Dr. Johnson’s house and it was 10.30 when she got there. She immediately went to her room and took her hat and coat off and then went to Mrs. Johnson’s room. Witness was crying and made a complaint to Airs. Johnson telling her what had happened. She had been in Greymouth for three months and came from Brunner. She had never been in the accused’s car before but she knew the accused by sight. On the following afternoon she went to the police station, wliero she identified the accused, whom she picked out from a number of other men. On Monday she went out past the Australasian Hotel with Det-Sergt. Ward and they found carbide wnere the car had stopped in the first; tance.

To Mr. Joyce: She-left Dr. Johnson’s early on the Saturday afternoon. She did not tell Mrs. Johnson what time she was returning as it was her half day off. If there was no one with her she generally took a" car and was always :n her bed at 10 p.m.

Mr. Joyce : You often have someone to take you home? iv itness : Yes I do. Young fellow?—Yes. What became of him on last Saturday night? —He was not well and did nfit stop down.

Witness did not meet a man near the cab stand and ask him where “Rube Jensen’s car was.” She was by the car a few minutes before Jensen arrived. He came round the corner. There were two cars on the stand and just as they were leaving another one came up. Jensen oponeit the door of the car for her. She was certain the blinds were right down. She did not tell the accused she would let him know where to turn. They were near'Yhe Technical School when Jensen asked her where Dr. Johnson lived. She did not toll him where to turn and said “out Cowper St.” Mr. Joyce : Did you want a joy ride? Witness ; No.

Continuing witness said that 'when past Rathburn’s sin; told him he was past the corner. She did net ask him to tui’n or to stop. She did not notice a light in front of the Australasian Hotel. She did not think of asking him to turn at the Australasian hotel. His Worship : Did you want him to turn or to go on ? Witness: I wanted him to turn. When Jensen was getting the water she tried to get out of the car. Had s ]i e been able to get out of the car she would have walked home. She was not on the front seat of the car that night at all. The second time he went for water he was not away long. She could see no houses close by the road. She could have got out of the car by climbing over the front seat. On the first occasion he did not .disarrange her clothes. On the second occasion he withdrew his hand at her request. She had never been past the cemetery before and everything occurred while the car was on the main road. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, hal being fixed at two sureties of £IOO.