CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 March 1929, Page 9

CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

* SALESMAN IN COURT. SEQUEL TO CAR RIDE. “This is ai charge of assault which I propose to treat as cue of common assault,” said Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Haw era Court to-day in dealing with an information preferred against a single man, Raymond Lewis Brice, salesman of Wanganui, of assaulting a boy under the age of J 4 years, at ha, wera. on December Id. The charge was not a serious one though it might have serious consequences it an accused person were convicted, said the magistrate. After reviewing trie evidence and points of corroboration of incidents related by the boyin evidence, the magistrate said, that, as a warning to defendant, he wouLd enter a conviction without penalty, defendant being ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months of the date of the offence.

Sergeant J. Henry conducted the prosecution and Mr J, ,M. Hussey appeared as counsel for defendant. As related by the boy in evidence the circumstances ."surrounding the charge were that he had been spoken to by defendant in a public garage on a Saturday morning and that following a short drive together in a thfee-seater car, driven by defendant, they arranged to meet on the Monday afternoon to take another drive. As the result, however, of an account given to his father concerning the alleged conduct of defendant during the drive, the father also met defendant and the second drive did not take plaoe. Evidence was also given by the father of the boy and by Detective Re veil, the latter presenting a statement taken from defendant on January 21 at Wanganui In the statement given to Detective Revel! at Wanganui, and during his evidence in court, defendant admitted lie might have put his arm round the boy in a friendly or paternal gesture, but lie denied the suggestion raised by the father that anything improper had occurred or had been intended. He explained that he had taken the boy tor the drive in the first place as the latter appeared friendly and intelligent ami it seemed the drive would please him. The second appointment had been made with the intention of giving a lesson in driving to the boy who appeared anxious to learn. Following the cross-examination _ot defendant by Sergeant Henry the magistrate gave his decision as indicated. An application made for the suppression of defendant’s name was refused.