GRAVE CHARGES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19407, 17 February 1925, Page 3

GRAVE CHARGES.

ANGLICAN CLERGYMAN PLEADS GUILTY. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE, Donald Leaoroft Freer appeared on remand, before Mir H. W. Bundle, S.M., at the City Police Court yesterday morning on two charges of having indecently assaulted two boys, aged iO years seven months and seven years respectively, on Wednesday last. Mr W. G. Hay appeared for the accused, and Chief-detective Lewis conducted the prosecution. Evidence was given by the two lads concerned, who said that the occurrence took place in the Woodhaugh Gardens. Constable Chapman said that m consequence of a complaint he went to the Woodhaugh Gardens and saw the accused walking aoout. He appeared to bo looking for someone, and while watching him witness took statements from the two boys, who pointed the accused out to him. Shortly after the accused got uo to walk away, and witness went and spoke to him. Witness told him who he was < and also told him of the serious allegations made against him. The accused replied that it was a mistake, and witness asked him to come to the North Dunedin Police Station with him. There he made two statements, the second in his own handwriting, in which he said that he was the vicar of the Anglican church at Port Chalmers. In the first he denied the charges, but admitted them in the second, though he added that he did not attempt to harm the hoys. The statement indicated that accused had been committing offences of this nature for some time past. The accused, who had nothing to say, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was not asked for.