Her Story Rejected

NZ Truth, Issue 1306, 22 December 1930, Page 2

Her Story Rejected

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Nelson Representative.) DEFORE a jury and Mr. Justice Reed, at the Nelson Supreme Court, John Joseph Morgan faced a charge of attempted carnal knowledge and indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years. The court was cleared. Accused, who was represented by Mr. J. R. Kerr and x Mr. S. H. Moynagh, pleaded not guilty. Evidence similar to that given m the lower court, a report of which appeared m "Truth" on September 18, was given by the girl concerned. Dressed m a blue velvet dress, the girl hung her head, and it was hard to catch all she said, the judge finally ordering her to remove her hat. She told how, after meeting Morgan at a dance m the Velma Hail, he accompanied her home m the early hours of the morning, and', according to her, he misconducted himself with her m Waimea Street. Several other witnesses were called and gave evidence along the same lines as m the lower court. ' Mr. Kerr, m his address to the jury, asked them to take particular notice of the way the girl was dressed, saying, "Here you have a girl appearing m court looking 12 years of age, but, gentlemen, I can assure you that if you. saw her dressed for a dance you would think her nearer 19, and I submit on accused's behalf that he was badly deceived i<n this case." The jury found Morgan not guilty and he was discharged.