WOMAN ASSAULTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18355, 22 March 1923, Page 9

WOMAN ASSAULTED.

SEQUEL TO "FALLING OUT."

MAN FINED TEN POUNDS.

A charge of having assaulted a woman in an apartment house in Mount Eden Road was preferred against Henry Reginald Herbert Ashforth (Messrs. Singer and Schramm), in the Police Court yesterday, on the private information of Elsie May Morgan (Mr. A. Moody). Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., was on the Bench. Complainant, a well-dressed woman, stated that she came from England at defendant's request, and had been living with him in Auckland. As the result of antagonisms, he prepared about a fortnight ago to leave her. At the last moment he tried to induce her to accompany him, but she refused. He asked her for a diamond ring she once had, and, failing to obtain .it, attacked her, inflicting bruises, for which she had been medically examined. She screamed for help, and the owner of the house came on the scene, and thresw defendant out of the front door. . , , 7 To Mr. Singer: She had never been married. She left England four years ago, and had lived with defendant ever since. Defendant went away two days before the alleged assault took place and returned early in the morning of the incident. He came into her room and pleaded on his knees for her to take him back, but she did not want him. She would not say she was quiet-tempered, for she could stand up to her dignity if required. \ , Robert Chilcott, owner of the apartment house, said he heard a scuffle in the passage, followed by a shriek, and saw defendant with his hand on the woman's throat. He immediately interfered, and put defendant out of the house. '•-••'. ■ Cross-examined by Mr. Schramm, witness said he had been married 15 years, but his < wife N*as living in Wellington now. . i x, ~'.•• :.'. . •:,. .: At this istage witness identified an envelope addressed by him to " Mrs. Ashforth " and. posted by him some time after the present information was laid. He said he wrote the letter at the woman's request, as she* "-wished to ascertain whether a suspicion that defendant was tampering with her mail was correct. I Mr Schramm: I put it to you that the letter is a trick to trap this man. There is a conspiracy between you and this woman. Witness denied the allegation, but said he suggested that Miss Morgan should summon Ashforth for assault. . Mr. Schramm: Were you very friendly with Miss Morgan? , ~ , , Witness: No, I suggested she shouic? obtain a summons because I thought it was the only thing for a man to do. I know ho struck her on one occasion before. • _ ~,_- ..' -Addressing the Bench. , Mr. Schramm characterised the proceedings - brought by the complainant as a complete "frame up." Defendant, in evidence, said that on receiving certain information he decided to leave the complainant and : seek pastures ney." He had asked her for some articles of crockery with the intention of leaving when Chilcott came on the scene and struck him on the head, later throwing him out of the front door. He flatly denied molesting the woman. The whole case' was a fabrication due to the fact that Chilcott had ■■** terrible set on him." He explained complainant's bruises by stating that she recently fell down some steps. He had never ill-treated her, though they had slight differences on occasions. He had always found complainant excitable, and once she had attacked him with 'a razor. The magistrate said he believed the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution. The alternative was to believe there had been a conspiracy, but he was confident a disturbance had occurred. Defendant was fined £10, and was ordered to pay complainant's medical expenses, amounting to £3, together with costs.