SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19549, 3 February 1938, Page 4

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

YOUNG MAN FOR TRIAL SADDLE HILL INCIDENT GIRL'S ALLEGED ORDEAL (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. Ten counts arising out of the sensational incidents at Saddle Hill on the night of November 29 were preferred against Wilfred Richard John Curry in the Supreme Court this afternoon. He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to commit suicide at Saddle Hill and Dunedin, and not guilty to the remaining eight serious indictments.

The charges to which he pleaded not guilty were that, with intent to disable or do grievous bodily harm, he wounded a young woman by striking her with the starting handle of a motor car; that he assaulted the woman with intent to commit rape; that he assaulted the woman with intent to commit indecent assault; that he attempted to murder the woman by shooting her; that, with intent to disable or do grievous bodily harm to the woman, he discharged a revolver at her; that, with intent to disable or do grievous bodily harm, he wounded AlexanderArthur Lawson by striking him with the starting handle of a motor car; that he attempted to murder Lawson by shooting: that, with intent to disable or do grievous bodily harm to Lawson, he discharged a revolver at him.

The jury was empanelled before the luncheon adjournment. Mr. Justice Kennedy is presiding. In the afternoon, Curry appeared on four counts relating to the alleged robbery of Edward Robertson in the Botanical Gardens on November 25. He pleaded guilty to the second count'and was remanded for sentence until Friday. A plea of not guilty was entered on the other three counts, which were formally adjourned until Friday, His Honour intimating that a further adjournment would probably be granted.

Dr. Spedding, of Mosgiel, and Dr. Perry, of Dunedin, gave evidence regarding the injuries received by the girl.

Evidence was given by Alexander Arthur Lawson, another subject of the alleged attacks, Jonathan Charles Snow, who took the young woman to a doctor at Mosgiel, and David Lister, a taxi-driver, who drove the accused from Evansdale to Dunedin. The court then adjourned until tomorrow morning.