GRABBED BY MAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10726, 25 October 1928, Page 2

GRABBED BY MAN.

GIRL’S EXPERIENCE IN RECREATION GROUNDS

YOUNG MAN FOR SENTENCE

The story of a young man’s indecent conduct towards young women passing through the Botanical Gardens last week was related to Mr E. O. Levvey, S.M.. in the Police Court yesterday when Samuel Sturgess, alias Walter John Best stood in the dock. He faced one charge of indecent assault, two of common assault and two of indecency. At .first he pleaded not guilty but after the evidence in one case had been heard he reversed his plea and wov remanded for sentence. He was represented by Mr S. V. Beaufov. In evidence the young woman said she was accompanied by two . little children and was crossing the Recreation Grounds footbridge at the time. The man grabbed her from behind, putting one arm r und her and tampering with her clothing with the other. He then turned and left her and took up a position behind a tree near Stout street in which .she had previously seen him She met ‘another* woman she knew to whom she related the in ('dent, and together they returned and saw the man still standing in the same place, and his clothing was then disarranged:' She identified accused later at the police station, hut he then denied being on the bridge at the time. She did not notice any sign of drink about accused at the time lie assaulted her and she did not think that lie was drunk. Under cross-examination by Mr Boanfoy the girl was adamant in her assertion that, accused was the man who had assaulted her and to support this she detailed the clothes her. attacker was wearing. She do elated that only ten minutes elapsed (.from the time she was attacked us-' til she mot the other woman and

they returned over the bridge to find accused in the same place and they went to notify the police,

The second woman stated that she met the girl in a distressed condition in the gardens, and on being informed of the affair they returned across the footbridge to see if the man was still there. He was standing behind a tree behaving in an indecent manner when they saw him.' She saw him three times in a- short space of time and was quite certain that accused was the man. She communicated with the police from the nearest telephone. Constable Heaslip stated that he had arrested accused about 4 o’clock the same afternoon and he was latoi identified at the police station by the girl as her assailant in the gardens. Accused denied that he was on the bridge at 5 o’clock, but was reminded that it was an hour earlier thathe had been arrested. Accused’s clothing was not properly adjusted v ben he was at the police station, and ho was quits sober at the time. ■Corroborative evidence was given by Plain Clothes Constable King who also produced statements by accused as to his movements. Accused withdrew his plea of not guilty at,this .stage arid admitted the offence. The charges in respect of the second girl • was, therefore, withdrawn.

Mr S. V, Beaufoy . said that, accused had 'pleaded not guilty because he did not remember the incidents. He was a hard working man, but during three yeans’ war service had suffered from shellshock and as. a result he .was easily, affected by a small amount of drink. His conduct was .entirely due to the disabilities caused hv his war service. Senior-Sergeant McLean said accused had neglected his wife and family in Napier and since coming to Gisborne had been living with a single girl under circumstances that 'had provoked comment upon a previous occasion.. He had also been convicted there of theft and three ; charges of indecent.exposure. In remanding accused until the. following morning: "for' sentence, the Magistrate announced that he would give the case the consideration it demanded. He could not. however, allow .such a . man to go round mol- . csting women and children.