LITTLE GIRL ASSAULTED

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 25 January 1933, Page 9

LITTLE GIRL ASSAULTED

OFFENCE AT NORM ANBY. SENTENCE OF TWO MONTHS’ GAOL. ' Police action was taken in the Hawera Magistrate’s Court this morning against Bertie James Towers, an exjockey residing in Nonnanby, on a charge of assaulting a girl seven years of age. Sergeant J. Henry stated that pn January 11 between 4.30 and o o’clock in the afternoon Towers walked along the main street in Nonnanby and spoke to the child, later taking her into a church property and seating her on the steps at the entrance to the building. The child commenced to cry and ran into a , friend’s house next cloor, complaining that Towers had interfered with her clothing. The lady of the house spoke to defendant and later informed the police. Counsel for defendant (Air. R. J. O’Dea) said that the charge against Towers had been made blacker than was actually the case. The unfortunate part of the affair was that the man was under the influence of liquor at the time. The little girl had been in the habit of speaking to Towers in the course of his work on unemployed relief, and had received cigarette cards and occasionally pennies. On this afternoon she had asked Towers for a penny. Towers, in his stupid condition,' told the girl roughly that ho did not want to bo bothered with her and that if she persisted she would he smackedr The girl thereupon com- | inenced to cry and Towers pushed her through the gateway to the church so that she could run into the house next door in her customary manner. There could he no suggestion of anything more serious than that, counsel remarked. “This man is charged with common assault, but the circumstances are such that he is fortunate it is not. one of indecent assault,” said His Worship (Air. J. H. Salmon, S.M.). “Our streets, our roads and.our country must be made safe for little children. I can see nothing for it but a term of imprisonment in this case.” Defendant was convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.