INDECENT ASSAULT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 14

INDECENT ASSAULT.

At the City "Police Court on the 18th, William Shepherd, a halfcaste, v.as charged with juc'ecsully assaultiiis Hannah Maaka, at Kanl.me, on June 10. Sub-inspector Kiety raid complainan* lesided with hor paie.-ts at Karitane. near Pulceteraki. On the arternoon of the 10th she iefi. her hcyme about 3 o'clock to go to the post office, about v mile away. She had a book in her hsiid, and was reading as she along the load. Oa the letuin jouirey she called m to c cc i fr»end not fpr fiom the post office, and on couiji.g on! she saw accus°d standing m the midnle ol tLe io?,d. He «<tikpd on ahead ot her, and £c>e;al times look.-d lound towaids her. Becoinuig FU=pi"ious o !i2 timied off tiio load iiiiou.ji a p tjdock lo cut cii" a corner and to gpt i.iicc'd of him, v,hiv.'j o'ic- did. Accused tauglit up tc hoi, al,a 1 , d pasepcl hei without speakin". He went ju to a turn of the load fiom wliuh he coul'T see vhcllici anyone v.<is coming or not, avd tLen came back. The girl redding wlip'i he appioached, and accused called out " Hallo!" He caught hei lound the luck, aiid tbiow her faackwaids. The gnl scipam^d out aiid a stiugp'e ensued on the fcule ol the load. Being a stiong gin the succeeded in fin=lratirg Ins cetigns. He stiuck her S"\cval blows ct the ia.ee, dip-virg blood. The gui eventual^jr &ucce^ded jji home, and

told her mother what had occurred. Accused, who was employed on a funn <n the neighbourhood, cleared out, and was af.erttdias arrested at Oamaru.— Aftci the e\ itlcnco had been heard, accuscri pl".tdcd suilty, and was committed to llu Sui>riMuo Couii lor scrlci-ce.