A FOOLISH ESCAPADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19069, 15 January 1924, Page 10

A FOOLISH ESCAPADE.

A YOUTH’S EXTRAORDINARY ACT. ••ARRESTS” YOUNG WOMAN. Evidence of extraordinary conduct on the part of a young man. of respectable appearance was given in the Melbourne Police Court some 10 days ago. The accused was Leonard Saker, who was charged with assaulting a young woman in Collins street on December IS. He pleaded guilty. A well-dressed young woman told the court that on the evening of December 18 she had an appointment to meet her sister at the Town Hall comer, and, arriving before her sister, ehe walked np the Cillins street Hill to look in the shop windows. Accused walked np to her and said, ‘Good night. Do you know me?” Witness replied curtly, ‘’No, I do not,” and turned to walk away. Accused followed her, and taking her by the arm said, “What do you mean by molesting men in the street? Come along with me.”' Witness appealed for assistance to a man who was passing, but accused pulled something out of his pocket, and said, “I have authority to arrest you.' Thereupon the man to whom she had appealed for help eaid he could no nothing, and went on his way. Witness was then inarched down Collins street by accused, but at the corner of Swanston street he loosened his grip, and she broke away from him and met her sister. Shortly afterwards witness saw accused with Some men near the Town Hall, and he walked up to her and swore at her in a disgraceful manner. Plain-clothes Constable Murphy eaid accused, when arrested, admitted that he hod accosted the girl as stated, but added that he was drunk at the time. defending counsel said no one regretted the affair more than accused did. His people, instead of bailing him out, had allowed him to remain in gaol for two or three days as a lesson, and ho had lost his position on the railways. Accused had intended his action as a Joke, but it had proved a very expensive joke. It was more a foolish escapade than anything else. Mr Knight (the Magistrate): I remember giving this boy some advice about drink a lew months ago. He does not seem to have taken that advice. Sergeant O’Reilly; Drink has been his trouble, your Worship. Mr Barnett: Ho is going away on a boat. He has had a lesson. Accused was fined £lO, in default a month's imprisonment. The fine was paid.