ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

NZ Truth, Issue 115, 31 August 1907, Page 5

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

A WANGANUI WRESTLE. He Did Not Answer to the Name of George. Hubby Promptly to the Rescue. At the Wanganui Police Court last Saturday a sea-faring individual named John Olsen was brought up to answer a charge of having, on the nig-ht of August 17, indecently assaulted a married woman named Ada Lawson. The story told by the prosecutrix, who was m great distress m the box, was that she lived m Ridgwaystreet. Hex husband was nightwatohman at the Sash and Door Factory, it being his haibit to return home at 3.15 m the morning, and while he was away the door was left unlocked and the gas allowed to burn. On the morning m question she was awakened by what she thought was her husband coming to bed. The gas being; out at the time she could not see the man. She spoke to a man she thought was her husband. He did not answer, but attempted to assault her. Sbe cried out, and her husband, who HAPPENED TO BE PASSING, came to the rescue, the man rushing: away on hearing the other's approach. Her husband struck a match,; and by the light of it she saw the man, wiiom she identified as the prisoner. George Lawson, husband of the pro--secutrix, said that on Friday, August 16, he was on night dutyi, as usual,and m the course of his rounds passed his house just before 1 o'clock.. He was walking slowly, and he heard loud talking inside, his wife saying, "Answer me, George." Witness ran round to the back, entered by the door, and . came down the passage. As he got to the bedroom door he struck a match and saw the accused, who came out of the r o om, and knocked witness against the wall. He went through the front door andi ran along the street, witness following him for about five chains and then returning;. The man, who had only his shirt on, was carrying his trousers m his hand. About five minutes later he returned and said) to witness, ''For God's sake give me mv boots." Witness replied, "Go inside and get your 'boots," and at the same time " struck another match and saw ' the man, who said he had made a mistake and come to the wrong house. Witness replied that THAT WAS D D ROT, and asked him why he had turned the gas out. On Monday witness was on the wharf and saw the accused, whom he recognised as tfhe man who had boen m his house. Endeavored to engage him m conversation on three occasions, but he would not speak. Ernest Turksma, a seaman on the Himitangd, said that when the steamer left Wanganui on Saturday last, the accused, who had also been a seaman on the steamer, was left behind, as he had been drinking, and lost 4 the ship. The steamer arrived m Wanganui on Friday last. Witness and som© other sailors went to the Opera House m the evening. Saw accused at the Shooting Gallery at the corner of St. Hill-street and Ridgway-street shortly after 10 o'clock. He was then drunk|, and witness did not speak to him. Accused occupied the bunk below witness m the" forecastle. Witness "turned m" about 10.30, but r.crused was not then m the forecastle. Some ' time during the night accused spoke to .wit-ness, who took no notice of him. Saw him at 4in the morning, when both got up to work. Accused asked witness if he could put his (witness's) boots on. He gave him permission. The accused had only one pair of boots when he joined ttye ship about three weeks ago, and witness told him he could use his (witness's) boots, sea boots, and * clothes. Accused drove the after winch: On her last trip to Wanganui the Himitangd tr ought a cargo of coal. Constable Watts next gave evidence concerning; a pair of boots (produced) which he had received from Mrs Lawson. Constable Issell followed, and his evidence was that, acting on information received), he saw the accused.. WHO ANSWERED THE DESCRIPTION „ of the wanted man, and asked hini to detail his movements on the night of August 16. The accused said he had been drinking about tire town and had returned to liis ship shortly after 10 o'clock. He said Ernie was ■there and spoke to him. He said the boots he was wearing .were his" own, and were the only pair he had. Witness then took the man to Mr Lawr son's house. Mrs Lawson was hans;out clothes, and immediately on seeing Olsen said "That is tli? man who was m mv place." Accused, who replied "You are mistaken." was then arrested by witness and charged with the crime. On arrival at the Police Station witness told accused to try on the fcoots produced. He did so, said they fitted, and declared they were not his. That was the case for the police, and Olsen. who was undefended, wandered into the witness-box: and stave evidence on his own liehnlf. He sn.id he had never been at . Laxrsnn's Vefore he was taker there -by ConstaWeIssell and had NEVER SEEN MRS LAWSON BEFORE. He could not say exactly when he returned to his ship, but it was early. When he woke m the morning lie could not, find his boots and asked Ernie for his. He was drank en Friday night. To Detective Suitteils : The toots produced must be &s. He iuci r.ever seen Mrs lawson. before, atut if t\e was m the house-, as alle^t\L ho did not remember any thing about it.. Accused was then coamntfced to take his trial at- the next sittings of the Supreme Court.