ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

NZ Truth, Issue 179, 21 November 1908, Page 6

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

Another Christchurch Case.

Another of those indecent assault cases that is making of I>he molb-banned city a by-word m the Dominion cropped up m. Christchurch t'other day, when an elderly individual with a grey mo and a receding forehead, named Alexander Johnston, was charged m, the Magistrate's Ccvurt with indecently assaulting a little girl ; : 6| -five years. The accused persop was extremely voluble throughout the proceedings and was so seif-evidently irresponsible that he had to be suppressed on several occasions. The youngster is a dark-haired, dark-eyed little tot, who was manifestly afraid of the grim person m the prisoner's box. She stated that she lived with her grandfather m Tuam-street, and knew Johnston, whom she ' met m that thoroughfare one day, at the back of the Farmers' saleyards." He spoke to the child and gave her a penny, at the same time asking her to go into the stable adjoining. There he kissed her and indecently handled,- her. Fortunately a man came, into t'n'e stable at this moment and ordered -Johnston out of the building. Johnston (to the child) : Didn't you v ask "me for a pepny '/—(Child cries), i Johnston: Now, "tell the truth. Ohild (sobbing) : Yes.' Lyall Hanssen, employed at the Karro- | ers' Saleyards, saw Johnston talking to ! some children m a right-of-way at '11 a.m., one of the youngsters being the little girl m question. Shortly afterwards ■he sarw Johns-ton -going into the stables, and, missing the child, Hanssen entered I the horse-house and saw Johnston up ai gainst a feed box, and the child close beside him. Witness asked Johnston what fee .was jioitt*. there/ and the accused

replied that he had come m for a smoke. Thereupon Hanssen said, "SMOKE OUT OF THIS as quickly as you like." Johnston asked if he was not obeying a call of nature when Hanssen entered. Witness thought not, but he saw Johnston arranging his clothing when he entered. He didn't see Johnston interfere with the child m any way. A nurse, who is aunt to the girl and has charge of her, stated that Detective Connell brought Johnston and the little [ girl into the shop, and she heard the child describe the assault to which she had been subjected. To Johnston ; The girl's underclothing was not disarranged or sailed m any way. ■ . 'Tec. Conntlll found , J ohnston at the corner of Oxford Terrace' and • Durhamstreet on the 11th. He; denied -having tampered with the chila, but subsequently acknowledged having met a little girl m the morning and gave her a penny. When, questioned as to what he had been doing m the stable he said he went mto obey., a call of nature. At the same time he admitted that the child was. present. Johnston pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial.