Wednesday, Max 28. assaulting a. GIRL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 50

Wednesday, Max 28. assaulting a. GIRL.

William Andrews, an elderly man, was charged with assaulting a girl 14 years and three months of age, at Heriot, on ihe 4th May.

Accused said he understood that Mr Hanlon was to appear for him, but Mt Hanlon said that he had looked through the depositions and intimated that he would not appear. Accused then said that he would like to get a lawyer; if not, he would plead guilty. He then said that he would like to address the ccurt, and had started, when his Honor said he did not want to know the facts. Mr Hanlon here volunteered to explain to accused wha,t he ought to do, and, having performed ■that friendly duty, he retired, accused pleaded " Not guilty," and the trial went on. The witnesses for the prosecution were Thos Wilson (blacksmith), Hugh Currie (labourer), Richard Corrigan (saddler), Robert Crawford (labourer), Dr Robertson, and Constable Cowan. Accused shortly addressed the jury, denying the charge. He also said that the girl ou one occasion told him, in reply to his question, that she was over 16 years of age. His Honor summed up, and the Jury, after a retirement of 15 minutes, brought in a verdict of " Guilty." His Honor deferred passing sentence. STEALING A COW.

Robert M'Gunn was charged with, on or about the Ist November, 1901, at Ettrick, stealing a cow, the property of Thomas Joseph Rickard. A second count charged the accused ■tt'th receiving the cow, knowing it to have been stolen.

Mr Fjnlayson' defended the accused, who pleaded " Not guilty. ' The Crown Prosecutor said the cow in question was of a strawberry co.our, with peculiar marks. It was given by Mr Brook, of Evan's Flat, to Jns son-in-law, (the prosecutor), who lived at Ettrick Once or twice subsequently it Lroke away. It broke away about October, 1901. Later on the piosecutor saw his cow in the possession of a butcher at Ettrick, he at once recognised it as his cow. He allowed the butcher to kill the cow. but the skin was kept. Mr Brook recognised the skin by a mark on the ear and by the horns. It would also be shown that about the Ist November last the accu&ed went to the farm of one Mr Woods with a cow, and, three months later, sold it to Mr Woods for £5. The next step was that the cow was sold by Mr Woods to the Ettrick butcher, who killed it.

Evidence m support of the case for the Crown was given by George Brook (farmer) and Thomas Joseph Rickard (flourmiller). after which the further hearing of evidence was adjourned until this morning at half-past 10.