SEAFARER CHARGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16243, 18 January 1927, Page 3

SEAFARER CHARGED

THEFT-AND RAPE ALLEGED

(Per Press Association.) • AUCKLAND, last night. Alunar Leif Andersen, 38, a Norwegian, second mate on Zane Grey s schooner, The Fisherman, was charged at the Police Court to-day on the following counts: Theft of £74 in English money and 25 dollars in American currency, rape, attempted rape, and aggravated assault on a female. Accused pleaded guilty to the theft of the money and not guilty to the other charges. The master of the schooner gave evidence that he left the money in the ehartroom on December 31, and it was missing on tho following day. Subsequently acused admitted stealing it. A harbor board gatekeeper said that when accused went ashore on the evening of December 31 he pulled two rolls of pound notes from his pocket, adding that he was a movie man, and was going to have a good time, A young married woman said accused spoke to her in the city on New Year's Eve, and they walked to Albert Park, where accused caught her and thumped her several times on the head. He tore her clothing from her, and in 'the struggle a tooth was broken, while she received severe injuries to the eye.

Evidence was given that accused had admitted that a bloodstained handkerchief with the initial "A" in one corner, found in Albert Park next morning, was his. When arrested accused said ha could not rememher what happened on New Year's Eve as he was very drunk.