A SINGULAR CASE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 810, 9 September 1887, Page 23

A SINGULAR CASE.

A middle-aged woman aamed Mary Jones was charged at the R.M. Court on Wednesday, before Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M., with having been found without lawful excuse in a stable, the property of John McCaul, in Sydney-street, on the previous night. In answer to the charge the accused stated that on the previous evening she was coming from the Government Railway Station about 8.30 p.m. when she was seized by four men and dragged into the stable. She screamed for assistance, but one of her assailants gagged her by placing his hands over her mouth. The men then tried to insult her, but she prevented them. She became insensible after a while, and knew nothing more until she was arrested by the constable. She did not think she would be able to recognise any of the men who assailed her. Constable Howell gave evidence to the effect that shortly after 9 o’clock on the previous evening, while on duty on Thomdon-quay, he noticed the smell of burning rags, which was also noticed by some of the officials at the railway station, and consequently he kept a good lookout. While passing McCaul’s stable a little later in the evening he saw a man come out of the'"place followed a few minutes afterward by two others. Fearing something was wrong he turned his lantern on and entered the stable, where he found the accused and a man lying down. The latter immediately got up and ran away before witness could arrest him. The woman appeared dazed and stupid, but witness did not think she was intoxicated. She said she had no friends in Wellington, and witness arrested her for being illegally on the premises. The accused, replying to his Worship, said she arrived from Gisborne about three weeks ago, and had been staying at the Salvation Army Home. She had also stayed with Mrs Epuni at Petone. His Worship said the accused’s statement was a remarkable one, and was in some degree corroborated by the constable’s evidence that he had seen men leaving the stable. Sergeant Morice pointed out ahat the constable had not heard the woman screaming. Constable J. Steele stated that he was on duty at the station on the previous evening. About 10 minutes past 11 Constable Howell brought the accused to the station. She was in a muddled state, evidently recovering from the effects of drink. - She said she knew nothing about any man having been with her, as stated by Constable Howell, and added that if anyone had insulted her she would have screamed her head off. John McCaul, proprietor of the stable, deposed that, in accordance with his usual custom, he went round the stable at 9.30 on the previous night, but there was no sign of any one there. The accused made a statement to the effect that she had missed the 6.30 p.m. train, and had afterward walked toward the Manawatu Railway Station. Subsequently she went along Sydney-street for the purpose. of looking for lodgings, .and when # passing the stable the four men shoved her into the yard. She screamed, but no one seemed to hear her. The men tried to insult her, but they appeared frightened

at her screaming. The place was very dark, and she could not see. In reply to his Worship—Constable Howell said he had found the accused lying on some sacks. His Worship said it was his impression that the accused was a smooth tongued impostor. Accused —I am not, sir. His Worship, continuing, said he did not often use strong language, but he did not believe a word of the accused’s groundless yam about her being gagged, and dragged into the place against her will. The accused said they could get her character from the Salvation Army Home. His Worship said he would give the accused eveiy opportunity of proving what her character was. The accused said she had a sister living in Wellington who could prove that she was not what his Worship thought she was. At this stage the case was remanded, in order that the accused’s sister might be called. On the Court resuming at 2 o’clock, the accused said the men who had heard her scream were in Court. Sergeant Morice stated that in justice to the accused he had had inquiries made as to the truth of the woman’s statement, and had ascertained that a Mr Jones, who resides in the neighborhood, had heard screaming in the vicinity of McCaul’s stable between halfpast 8 and 9 o’clock on the previous night. Elizabeth Juno, sister of the accused, deposed that she was out with her sister on Monday night, but did not see her or know where she was on Tuesday. She was going to Mrs Epuni’s at Petone. In reply to his Worship, witness said her sister stayed at the Salvation Home on Monday night, and left there on Tuesday morning. Her sister had a very good character, and was a good servant. His Worship said the accused had made a statement which made him regard the case as a very serious one. If that statement were true, a very serious crime had been committed, and there were four men concerned in it. The accused was either deceiving him grossly and assuming a tone and character she had no right to, or she had been the victim of an outrage, and therefore it was not a matter .to be dealt with in a half-and-half way. He would like to know what the police thought of the matter. Sergeant Morice thought the whole occurrence had arisen through the woman having been in Equor. He did not think there was any truth in her statement about the men. If it was true why did she not make a complaint against them when she arrived at the police station ? He drew his Worship’s attention to the watchliouse-keeper’s statement. His Worship said he would give the accused the benefit of what had been said, and would not regard her as a hardened offender, consequently he would deal with the matter more leniently than he should otherwise be justified in doing. He sentenced her to seven days’ hard labor. Sergeant Morice remarked that if the police had thought there was anything in the woman’s statement they would have done their utmost to sift the matter and discover the offenders. His Worship said if the police had the slightest grounds for believing the story, he would remand the case, in order that they might make further inquiries. Sergeant Morice said the police had no grounds whatever for believing the story. In reply to his Worship, Sergeant Morice said he did not think there was any necessity to make further inquiries.