ROBBERY MOTIVE DENIED

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 29 July 1932, Page 7

ROBBERY MOTIVE DENIED

ASSAULT ON CHINESE.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST

DETECTIVE

(By Telegraph—Fresa Association.) "WELLINGTON, July 29. Fiat denials that they visited the Chinaman’s premises with the motive of robbery, and allegations that they had been induced to make wjritten statements to Detective Hayhurst, in which they allegedly admitted thenguilt on a promise that a girl would not be brought into the case, were made by Albert Ernest Clifton, aged 22, and Leonard Humphries, aged 23, when on trial in the Supreme Court before his Honour, Mr.’ Justice Reed and a jury on a charge of assaulting and robbing Ah Lai at his premises, Pirre Street, on July 15. They further alleged in -the witness box that their purpose in going to the shop was to warn the Chinaman from associating with white girls. In cross-examination the girl who had bene referred to as Peggy Johnstone, and who gave her name as Alarcaret Johnstone, after first denying it, admitted she had been living with Humphries as man and wife. She was at Ah Lai's place that night. _ Summing up, his Honour criticised the defence and allegations made against the detective. The case assumed a serious aspect because of the very gross charge that had been made against Detective Hayhurst. " Th e jury had not returned at three o’clock.