BURKE'S BRUTISHNESS.

NZ Truth, Issue 83, 19 January 1907, Page 6

BURKES BRUTISHNESS.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED RAPE. A Girl-cliild Shockingly Injured. Accused Committed for Trial.

At the S.M.s Court yesterday, before Dr. McArthur, a young, thickset individual named John Burke was charged with having on January 10 attempted to commit rape on Irene Elizabeth Lander.

Dr. Mackin was the first witness called. His evidence was that on the evening of January 10, about 7.30, the father of the child visited the doctor, who, m consequence of what he was told, went to a house at 21, Ghuznee-street, where he saw , the child. He examined her and found evidence that the girl- had been seriously interfered with. The child was excited and it was difficult to make a minute examination. He saw her afain the same evening about 9.20. Since jlhen he had seen the $irl occasionally and she was gel/ting on well. The child waa m a defective, mental condition. At the request of the ■ "...'police- lie. examined the .accused and-- found him covered m coal-dust. His fm-ger nails were long and sharp. There was an appearance of blood on the fingers of his right hand. A further examination of the accused showed tha/t he was suffering from a venereal disease. In the do;> tor's opinion the injuries he found on the child had been inflicted by a sharp instrument.

John A, H. Hurley, assistant bacteriologist of the Government Health Department, deposed that he had examined the coat, vest,- trousers, shirt, undershirt and drawers that had been worn by the accused, the result bein- that on\ the undershirt stains were found indicating thait the. wearer had suffered from a certain ailment. There were no blood-stains on the male clothing. Part of the child's underclothing was found to be blood-stain-ed. All the clothing was filthy. The child, whose conduct m the [ Court showed that she was half-wit- ! ted, when asked by Sub-Inspector 0'Donovan what thc-y all called her replied "What do they call you ?" Having said that -her name was Irene she was asked the accused's name and she called him "Coaly," and when asked what he did to her she said he hurt her. Here she displayed a liveh r interest m ' the typewriter on j which- the depositions were being taken, and Dr. McArthur said that they would tell her all about it if she answered questions. She [then, told the Sub-inspector that she was' m Mrs Driscoll's place and "Dirty <Coaly" hurt her, and her fathor came and burst the doclr m. "I won't tell you any more," she said, "All right," replied Sub-Inspector O'Donovan, "I won't ask you any more." . ' Edward Lander, a boiardingihousekeeper, of 21 U-huane-e-street, said the child was his daughter, and she was S years of a^. About 7 o'clock on the evening. of January 10 his^ at-! tention was attracted by loud! screaming which emanated from a .shed out m this yard. The screams continued and the witness recognised the voice. of .his daughter. He then burst the door open. There were two shakedowns m the out-house, the place had formerly been occupied by a Mrs Driscoll. When, he entered the shed he saw the child on the. broad of 'her back on the bed. He saw the accused getting off the bed. Witness saw something; else and said "Hullo, what game is Dhis," and drew his attention to what he saw. The accused said, "It's all right." Witness said, "It's not all right" and struck the accused. • Ths child got off the bed, and on getting on the floor he saw that she was bleeding profusely. He handed his daughter over to Mrs Hay. The child was attired only m a chemise, because it was hot.: Witness locked the front door to keep the accused m while he went for a policeman. In the meantime the accused scaled the side sate into G-huz-ness-street. Witness chased him and caught him, and told hint be intended to have him locked up. The accused had ran away m the direction of Marion-street. Constable O'Connor came on the, scene and arrested the man. When charged 1 Burke said a bloomer was being made and declined to say anything, promising to tell it to the Court. The accused was- committed * or trial to file Supreme Court. Bail was refused. ■