SUPREME COURT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 58, 7 February 1925, Page 7

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL CALENDAR. The case in which Reginald Rainey was Charged with carnally knowing a 15-year-old girl at Dannevirko on December 27, or, alternately, with indecently assaulting her, was concluded before His Honour Mr Justice MacGrogor at the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. Continuing the oaie for the Crown, Mr Cooke called the girl concerned.In evidence, witness detailed her meeting with the accused and tho subsequent occurrences. Accused had rot asked her her ago. The mother of the girl also- gave evidence. Detective Fitegibbons, stationed at Hastings, deposed that, on January 13, in consequenco of instructions received, he interviewed accused, w7io, after Bearing the complainant, made a full statement. This closed the case for the Crown, and Mr Lloyd opened that for the defence by calling accused. In evidence, witness stated that he was 17 on January 12 of this year, and that he had gone to primary school with the girl in tho case. When he was eight or. nine years old the girl, in answer to a 1 question from the headmaster, had given her age as 10; consequently he had over since then believed her to be older than him. Summing up, His Honour said that the evidence was a reflection on the state of juvenile rflbrality in Dannevirke. It was not admirable for accused to say that he. had been led astray first by his friend and then by the girl. If the jury was of the opinion that accused had not had reasonable cause to believe that the girl was 16 or over a verdict of guilty on the first charge should be returned. If it was their opinion that he did not deserve serious punishment, they could add a recommendation to mercy. The jury then retired, coming back an hour later with a verdict of not guilty. Accused was accordingly discharged. ANOTHER 'YOUTH CHARGED. Another Dannovirke youth, Arthur George Henry Sunnex, aged 19, appeared on a similar charge, the date on which the accused is alleged to have committed the offence being January 1. The gi::l concerned is the one figuring in tl e case against Rainey. Accused, who wai represented by Mr Lloyd, pleaded not guilty. The following jury was empanelled: Messrs J. C. Dixon (foreman), C. Bell, F. G. Watehorn, E. Barling, W. H. Davies, I. Price A. C. McLean, T. Swaney, J. A. Rickard,' E. G. Bannerman, S. F. Board, W. Rigby. Tho evidence for the Crown closely followed that in the case of Rainey, but the defence was an absolute denial of the alleged offence. In evidence for the Crown, Detective Fitzgibbons detailed his questioning of accused, who had sigtied a confession, which was produced in Court. Cross-examined by Mr Lloyd, witness denied that he had used any threats to secure the confession. In the witness-box, accused Btated that the confession had been extorted from him, the detective threatening to look him up if he did not admit the offence. Witness wanted to get away to his work, so he said "yes." He had asked the girl her age, and was told that she was 15, and had walked away. The case was then adjourned until this morning. THE PERRIN CASE. ACCUSED FOUND NOT GUILTY. In the case in which John Lionel Perrin was charged with attempting to commit rape, or alternatively, with committing an indecent assault, the jury returned after a retirement of a little over three hours, with a verdict of rot guilty. Accused was accordingly discharged.