Serious Charge Against Man

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 149, 25 June 1937, Page 11

Serious Charge Against Man

SEQUEL TO ADVERTISEMENT FOR HOUSEKEEPER “I plead guilty to kissing her but 3 went no further," stated Hector James McDonald in the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court yesterday. Accused, described as a labourer, 37 years of age, was charged with indecent assault to which he pleaded not guilty. The presiding Justices, Col. A. Headland and Mr. A. J. Cruickshank, committed him to the Supreme Court for trial. Eric R. Harris, assistant manager for the “Manawatu Daily Times,” stated that on June 14 he received a letter from a man who signed himself “N. Brown" and an advertisement for a housekeeper. As there was no money enclosed and no address of the advertiser, it was decided to give the advertisement a number, the intention being that when “Brown" called for replies, he would not get them until the advertisement was paid for. “Brown," however, never called and seven replies awaited him. Wm. H. McPhail, secretary of the Manawatu Evening Standard, said his firm also had received a letter from “N. Brown" with an advertisement for a housekeeper. There was no money nor address, so the advertisement was given a number. Witness was unable to say whether “Brown" collected any replies but it was quite possible he did. There were replies still awaiting him. John Powell, proprietor of the Railway Buffet private hotel, Palmerston North, said that on June 17 accused called for dinner, bed and breakfast, giving tho name of Hayward. He was allotcd a room in which there were two single beds. Accused remarked that his wife might be coming and that she could use the other bed. However, accused did not sleep in the room that night though there was evidence that somebody had been sitting on one of the beds. On two previous occasions (May 21 and May 24) accused had stayed at the hotel. On the second of these he brought a lady who, he said, was his wife, and two children. That time he gave the name of Dowell though on the first of those ocasions he had used the name Hayward. “Mrs. Dowell" and the children were given a room adjacent the one accused used, the latter saying he could only rest properly in a room of his own. A domestic gave evidence that she had replied to the “housekeeper wanted" advertisement and interviewed accused who said the place was out in the country. There was further conversation about tho job and then lie asked her to go to tho pictures that night with him. She met him outside the “Times" office where accused suggested that as they had plenty of time, they might as well go to where he was staying and talk for a while. They went to the Railway Buffet private hotel and when they went upstairs she thought they were going to a sittingroom but the opening of the door revealed a bedroom. She stood still and he asked her if she was frightened. Her reply was that she didn't like the idea of going into a man's room but his assurance was that there was nothing to be frightened of. With that she entered but his request to sit on a bed she declined, preferring tho chair. Accused sat on the bed instead and they talked for a while. Then he became familiar and tried to kiss her. She stood up to go out but accused stood in front and would not let her go. “I gave him a push whereupon ho grabbed hold of me and pushed me on to the bed," said the witness. “I screamed out and accused put his hand over my mouth. I managed to pinch him and even stuck a safety-pip into him. Then I managed to get free and screamed out again as loud as I could though I don't think anybody heard. It frightened him, though, for he then let me go.'' Witness added that she then left the room and “tore" down the stairs as hard as she could. Accused came after her saying he was sorry and even followed her 300 yards down the street before turning back. Accused from the dock, declared that he had kissed the witness three’ times and she had never moved, but witness denied this. There had been no actual kissing though accused had tried. Accused also denied having had his hand over her mouth. He declared tho girl had not struggled. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn produced a statement given by accused who said he was married with one child but had been separated from his wife for some years. Three months ago he had secured a position as manager of a sheep farm at Pohangina and one of the conditions of the job was that he was to have a cook to prepare meals for men who did work on the farm periodically. To his advertisements he had received about a dozen replies. He had waited outside the “Times" office for half an hour waiting for the young lady and because he was cold and stiff, ho had suggested that they go to his room to discuss matters. When there ho had put his arms around her waist and kissed her three or four times. Otherwise he had not touched her. She had called out when he kissed her. On the way down the stairs ho had expressed his regrets if he had done anything wrong in kissing her. He had given the name of Hayward at the Railway Buffet, because nobody would know him there. When the girl left him he booked in at another boardinghouse for the night under the name of McDonald. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. On another charge of intending to defraud Rita Mauger of SOs by falsely representing that he had a farm and would engage her as housekeeper, accused was remanded to appear in ■Christchurch. it, but I have found it even more profitable to let it.' ’ When Mr Albert entered his father's business a hundred pounds would havo bought it.