A SLENDER CLUE

NZ Truth, Issue 997, 3 January 1925, Page 6

A SLENDER CLUE

Loaf Of Bread, Bottles Of Beer Indecent Acts Alleged.

(From "Truth's" Hawkes Bay Rep.)

Last week Constable Connor, of Hastings, who does his duty m plain clothes, arrested a man on a somewhat slender clue— the fact that the man carried a parcel which appeared to contain a loaf of bread, and another parcel which looked suspiciously like a couple of bottles of beer. The arrested man was Hugh Thomas Gilhooley, against whom were laid two charges of indecent assault. The alleged victims are two little- girls, aged five and three; ' I The story which was told to the Court, and on which the constable had to build his case; was. that on December 12, some time after 5 p.m., the two little girls went down the street to look for a lost hair ribbon. During their search the accused met them, and, after a breezy "Hulloa," went into a shop to buy them each an ice cream and some lollies. This done, he asked if they would like to. go to a concert (there was a concert m the theatre that night) and the kiddies thought they would. Instead of taking them to the concert, however, he took them to a Vacant section, where the alleged offence happened. Accused asked them not to tell anyone what had taken place, as he did not want to go to gaol. As a result of the little girls' state-, ment, the police were informed. Constable Connor inquired at the ice cream shop. The assistant there knew the man by sight. The arrest ■ followed. Part of the evidence was a written statement from the accused to the effect that he was under the influence of liquor at the time, but remembered perfectly what had happened. He admitted meeting the two. children and buying them ice creams and lollies. Then he took them into a vacant section to a spot well away from the road. He could give no reason for acting as he did except that it was due to the liquor.. When the case was concluded,, the accused, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Napier for trial. He was allowed bail, m himself for £200 arid two sureties Of £100 each.