A STREET AFFAIR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 November 1924, Page 7

A STREET AFFAIR.

YOUNG LADY ASSAULTED,

SEQUEL IN COUBT,

On Monday night last there arrived in Hawera Albert William Sievers, w ho,' when charged at the Haver a Magistrate’s Court to-dav with using indecent language and assault on a young lady, explained that he was not an ordinary showman, but a “ photographer,’’ who “followed up the agricultural shows and worked the SvcF ney beaches in the off season.” He mentioned his “studio,” and as an excuse for the language he had used said that in his calling it was necessary for him to make himself as famiilar and agreeable to prospective customers as possible in order to draw trade. Sergt. Martin said that on Wednesday night the complainant and her sister attended the pictures. The theatre was crowded and the atmosphere hot and stuffy, and the sisters decided that during the interval a walk up High street would be beneficial. Consequently they left the building and strolled up High street. They had not gone far when they passed a group of men standing in a doorway.- and to their surprise one of these men mime up behind them and in :t pleasant voice asked if there was a dance on anywhere that night. The girls replied that they did not know of any, lint instead of the matter resting at that, Sievers came up and taking flic younger of the two sisters by the arm drew her aside and asked her if he could buy her a purse displayed in a window for a Christmas present. The girl demanded to be left alone, and threatened to slap Siever’s face, but accused took no notice of the warning. The result was that the threat was carried into effect. Even then Sievers did hot leave the girl alone, and he retaliated by striking her on the chest, arias and neck, and using the obscene language mentioned in the charge sheet. Complainant said she was going to inform the police and accused indifferently told her to go and do so. The result was that she ealied at the police station, and after giving an accurate description of her assailant returned with Cnostables Mullan and Fleming and indicated Sievers to them. To the constables accused denied ever having previously spoken to the girl, hut he subsequently admitted otherwise.

In her evidence, complainant described the affair as detailed by Sergt. Martin.

To Mr O’Dea, who appeared in Sievers’ defence, she denied that all concerned were just skylarking in the street, and Said that, while she did not take much notice of the blows, which were delivered with a half open hand, she objected to- the language used. The sister of the previous witness corroborated the evidence given by complainafity and identified aecfiSed as the man who had assaulted her sister. Constable Mullan told how complainant had ealied at the police station on Wednesday night, flushed and excited, and had given a description of her assailant and the language used to her. He and Constable Fleming went down the street with her, and she pointed Sievers out a t s he stood amongst a group of men. “I have never spoken to the girl before,” was accused’s statement when accosted, but after he had been forcibly taken to the police station he admitted that he had.

In giving his version of the affair, accused said that on Monday night when he came to Hawera he saw the girl in the street and said “Good night” to her. He next saw her on the night of the occurrence then being mentioned in Court. lie said that the two girls passed him and his mates in the street, and someone, asked them if there was a dance on. They then started a conversation and lie caught hold of the younger girl’s arm, saying, “J ust let me tell you something, girlie.” She threatened to slap his face, and he, thinking the whole thing was a .ioke, told her to go ahead. Accused denied using the language mentioned in the charge sheet, and stated that his words were much milder. He had meant nothing by what he had said, and he described his utterances .as just his manner of addressing a person with whom he was friendly. He was a married man, with a wife and six children, his family residing in Sydney. He did not class himself as a showman, but as a photographer. Reginald Phillips corroborated Sieve's evidence. He said he was showing the Pomeranian horse at the show, but classed himself as a traveller, and not a showman.

The Justices, Messrs G. 11. Buckeridge and J. G. Osborne, said they considered that an assault had been committed, and stated that accused had no right to catch hold of any girl’s arm in the street and suggest that iie should give her a. present. On the charge of assault a. fine of '2os would be inflicted. On the oilier charge there was a conlliciion of evidence and therefore the charge of using obscene language would be dismissed.

AVit desses’ expenses amounting to 10s each were allowed the two girls.