A SERIOUS CHARGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 63

A SERIOUS CHARGE

ALLEGED ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE. At the Kaitangata Court on the 14th, before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., Daisy Reeves, Albert Rogers, and Hans Mars Hansen rvera charged with robbery, with violence, on th® sth inst. The complainant was Henry William Smallman, a young man, nephew by marriage of the female accused. —Seniorsergeant Dart represented the police, and Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the defence. The accused had been arrested on the 6th inst., brought before Messrs Pj Souness and W. Aitchcson, J.P.’s, and remanded, on substantial bail, to appear before the magistrate. It was alleged that Rogers, on behalf of. the woman, made an appointment with Smallman to meet the female accused et Carson’s corner, Eddystono street, on the evening of Tuesday, sth inst., at about 8 o’clock. The young man turned up, and refused tho request of the woman for the return to her of certain private letters. Sue endeavoured to take the letters from Smallman’s pocket, and Rogers and Hansen then appeared, violently attacked the young fellow, and took a podcotbook, letters, and a sum of money from him. The woman lirrt departed, and the two male accused, on. hearing the approach of a neighbour, whosa inquiry as to the trouble led to a reply from the young man lying on tho ground. They are killing me,” also decamped. The neighbour found the victim In an exhausted stale, and took him into his home. Small man’s overcoat was torn badly, and blood on hk face and clothes showed the extent to which he had been handled. Evid.enoe was given by the complainant, who detailed the whole incident, and was cross-examined at some length by Mr Hanlon. Other witnesses called wore Dr Brown (who attended the complainant after >he assault), John Balloch (butcher, who heard the screams for help), the brothers Dahron (who had held a watch and chair, given to them by the accused Rogers, and returned to him on the Tuesday after the assault had occurred), and by Detective Haramcriy (of Dunedin) and Constable Martin (of ETitangata), the arresting police. All the accused were committed to tbs Supreme Court for trial at the next sittings at Dunedin on November 8. Bail was allowed. the female accused herself in the sum of £IOO, with one surety of a like amount, Hansen was allowed similar bail, but in the case of Rogers tho amount was doubled, this accused being a young man with no ties in the dominion. Bail was forthcoming. A further charge of wilful damage was preferred against all three accused in respect of a rainproof coat, valued at £l, and worn by the complainant at the time of the assault. It was exhibited in court in a very torn condition. This case was adjourned till after the sitting of the Supreme Court.