ON A LONELY ROAD

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2560, 18 December 1924, Page 5

ON A LONELY ROAD

alleged attempted rape. YOUNG MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. The story of an evening drive in gig by a young couple and a lengthy stoppage in a country lane, was told at the Palmerston North Police Court before Messrs W. F. Durward and W. •McKenzie, J.’sP., yesterday, when John Lionel Perrin, 25 years of age, a resident of Palmerston North was charged with having on November 25, ■ at Fitzherbert, attempted to commit rape on a young woman of 20. Mr Ongley appeared tor the accused Upon the application of Detective Sergeant Quirkc, the Bench ordered the suppression of the name of the complainant, and also of all the witnesses in the case. Detective Sergeant-Qulrke, in outlining the case, said that the accused was alleged to have met the girl concerned at about 7.40 p.m. and to have taken her for a drive in a gig. They had gone to Fitzherbert, and after driving about for some time, the accused took the girl to a remote road and there attempted the offence as alleged. The girl was 20 years of age, and had not been long in the Dominion. The Appointment. The victim of the alleged outrage, a well.Vfiilt, auburn haired girl, wearing a small black hat and spectacles stated that at the time of the alleged offence she had been employed at a local outfitters’ establishment, and had known the accused for about a month, having met him as a customer to the shop in which she worked. At about 3.30 p.m. on the date mentioned in the charge, she met the accused, and after walking along the street with her, Perrin asked her to go out with him that night. This witness consented to do .though she declined to ride with him or to walk about the town. When witness arrived at the appointed place —the corner of Alexandra and Ferguson streets —the accused was not there, but a little later ho drove along in a gig. At this, witness expressed surprise and asked: “Wort : bring that thing for,” because she had understood the accused would take her to a place of amusement although no definite arrangement to this effect had been made. After a few moments of hesitation, she stepped into the gig and the accused dirove across the Fitzhlerbert bridge and out towards Linton. Down the Lane. After ascending the hill they had retraced their steps, and on the return journey, the gig was driven along a side road, a portion of which had been washed away by the river. On stopping the horse, the accused put his- arm around witness’ waist and endeavoured to-kiss her. She resisted his advances. The accused then bccam e moio persistent and witness threatened to scream, at the same time struggling violently. Accused replied: "It is of no use, nobody will hear you.” Witness proceeded to details. Agreed to go Again. On the return journey, accused

asked witness to meet him on the following Sunday evening, and she agreed to do so. When she reached home, witness told her mother and sister all about the occurrence. This was the first occasion upon which she had been alone with the accused. In response to qeustions by Mr Ong. ley witness detailed her early acquaintance with the accused, and continued that it was 8 o’clock when the gig stopped on the lonely road, and it was 9.20 when the accused began to make himself unpleasantly familiar. Mr Ongley: “What were you doing from S o'clock till 9.20?” —Talking ' in the gig. "Now is It not true that you were ’smoodging’ for an hour and a half?— “Decidedly not.”

"Could you not have got out of the trap after ho tried to kiss you earlier?” —"I told him I did not like it.” In continuing, witness was at first indefinite as to who had suggested a second meeting, but then declared that she had been responsible, having named Wednesday night, but Sunday evening wag eventually decided upon. She did not sit in the gig at the gate, neither did she say good-night to Perrin. She recalled having warned the accused that she thought another couple was close, but she did nor, scream.

The mother of the girl also gave evidence, and described how her daughter had taken her into her confidence in respect to the happenings of the evening. Medical evidence was given as to several bruises which had been discovered on the girl. Accused Alleges Consent.

A detective of Palmerston North, related having interviewed the accused on the day following the alleged offence. Perrin had described the journey in the gig out to Fitzherbert and along Cliff road, Ho then made and signed a statement, in which he declared that when the gig turned into Cliff road, the couple had their arms around each other. Accused had made more familiar advances and the girl consented, saying “But don’t tell anybody.” Up to a certain stage the girl was a consenting party, but she then said it accused persisted he would hurt her. Anything that had been done had been done with the full consent of the girl, and the two had arranged to meet on a subsequent evening. Witness later arrested the accused for the alleged offence. Committed for. Trial.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

Bail was allowed on terms similar to those made hitherto.