CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 29 October 1908, Page 3

CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

xnomas .tranklyn was charged with having committed an indecent assault on a girl on Octobor sth at Sandy Bay. Ine accused pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr C. J. Harley, Mr •n.' -t a P. e P arin S forth© Crown. Ine following jury was empanelled: — W. Greenem (foreman), V. Malorney, F. J. Hall, J. P. Harris junr., E. Atkinson, A. Dayton, J. A. Mills, H. McCienaghan, A. Bird, C. J. Bebarfeld, C. Phipps, W. J. H. Schroder. Thomas Pettit, D. G. Fleming, and W. L. Bowden were challenged. Witnesses were ordered out of the Court. His Honor, at the suggestion of Mr Pell, asked "all respectable people whose --business does not compel them to- remain," to leave the Court. Erir2ence was given for the prosoer.ti' \ ani the accused also gave evident.-. ' In y • .7 aaid the girl was a consenting pi-.y. If the mother had not coiius iii-osi the scene thore would have- been no prosecution. Mr Tell held that the girl's cvi- ' dence, taken with that of her mother, left no room for doubt that the girl : had been ccsaultecJ, and had not been '." a consenting - arty. His Honor hating -unnimod up, the jury retired. The jury returned after an absence , of an hour with a veidiet of not guilty.