CHARGE OF ASSAULT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21710, 30 July 1932, Page 18

CHARGE OF ASSAULT

STORY OF ATTACK ON CHINAMAN*. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DETECTIVE. #' (Pea United Press Association.) O WELLINGTON, July 29. Flat denials that they visited the ; Chinaman’s premises with the motive of ;.'; robbery and allegations that they had rbeen induced to make written statement!; to Detective Hayhurst, in which they ... allegedly admitted their guilt on‘‘- the.i. promise that, a girl would not be brought into the case were made by Albert Ernest Clifton, aged 22, and Leonard Humphreys, aged 23, who are on trial in the Supreme Court, before Mr/ Justice .‘Reed and. a jury,’ on a. charge of, assaulting and robbing Ah Lpi at his premises in Pirie street on July 15. They* further alleged in the witness box that their purpose in going to the shop was to warn the Chinaman from associating with white girls/ / -f: ' In cross-examination, tbs girl, who had ; been referred to as Peggy Johnstone, and who gave her name as Margaret-John-stone, after first denying it. admitted that she and Humphreys had been living;,;' as man and wife. She was at Ah Lai’S.;place that night. Summing up, his Honor criticised the'defence and the allegations mads against/ the detective. The case, he said,. had assumed a serious aspect,. because of a&';; very gross.' charge that had been, madsf ’ against Detective Hayhurst. Clifton and Humphreys were found guilty of assaulting the Chinese Ah Lai'so as to cause actual bodily harm,., and;./ with assaulting Lai. The jury disagreed on the most serious charge, that of robbery with 1 violence. Sentence was de-, f erred. ;\-