TWO WOMEN ASSAULTED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18997, 19 October 1923, Page 4

TWO WOMEN ASSAULTED.

THE OTAKI SENSATION. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. £Peb United Paras Association.) OTAKI, October 18. George Ayre was to-day charged with unlawfully entering a kiosk with intent to commit a crime, that on or about October 9, with intent to commit or facilitate a crime, he caused Margaret Parata to be affected with chloroform, and also with assaulting Maud Cotterell. The evidence showed that accused entered the kiosk at Otaki beach and chloroformed Margaret Parata and assaulted Maud Cotterell. He pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence.

A previous telgeram stated that George Ayre, a motor driver and mechanic, was arrested by the ’-■olice on a charge of assaulting Misses Cotterell and Parata, who are employed at a seaside kiosk. It wag alleged that, while the girls were asleep, the man effected an entrance to the kiosk by means of the fanlight, and made his way to the bedroom of the women. There, it is said, he applied a handkerchief saturated with chloroform to Miss Pa rat a’ 9 face, and, despite her struggles, succeeded in rendering her unconscious by means of the ansesthetic. Having disposed of her, ne then turned his attention to Miss Cotterell. It is alleged that he caught the girl round the neck and held her. Miss Cotterell, thus rudely awakened, struggled with the intruder, and screamed loudly for help. She succeeded in fighting off her assailant, though by the time help arrived she was almost in a state of collapse. The police were at once informed, with the result that Ayre was arrested. It is said that accused was. up to recently, engaged to Miss Cottere'll, but the engagement had been broken off.