ASSAULT ON WOMAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19550, 4 February 1938, Page 7

ASSAULT ON WOMAN

MAN BEFORE COURT EVIDENCE OF VICTIM STRUGGLE AT NIGHT (Per Press Association.) 1, AUCKLAND, this day. The story of an alleged assault near Albany on the night of January 14 Was told at the Police Court to-day when Alfred George Clegg,- 46, was charged with assaulting a woman and, further, with assaulting her with intent to commit rape. The medical evidence showed that the woman was badly bruised bn various parts of the body and subsequently was in a highly-nervous State and unable to sleep or control her feelings adequately. Ernest William Anderton, a farmer, gave evidence that he and a brother who lived in a tent about 300yds. away heard cries at about 9.30 p.m. On reaching the woman’s house, where she lived alone, the witness saw her bn the ground inside the gate. She was wearing a nightdress. He also saw the accused going out of the ga, ‘He came straight for me,” said the witness. “I said, ‘Who are yom As he did not reply, I stopped him and gave him a straight right an The witness related how he and his brother overpowered Clegg And tied his wrists with a rope, then telePh Sf“wS»n h '',»% the alleged assault was committed sobbed while Xe was seated in court giving evidence She said the house was in a bSd road. She had lived there for nine years, and for the last 15 months had been alone. She retired at about 8 o’clock and was awakened at about 9.30 by a loud knocking and rattling on . the* back dbor. She called out. “Who’s there?” from an open window, but no one answered. A man. came on. to the verandah and said he wanted to get to Riverhead. She told him that was miles away, and that he had better return to Albany. He said he could not and asked to be accommodated for ine night. She said she could not do that. He went away and she returned to bed. Later there was a rattling on the window and man asked hei to help him. She gave him a glass of water. . . , „ He did not appear to want to go, and she said if he did not she would call the' neighbours. He caught hold of her wrist. She ran to the front door, and fainted. As she ran away she felt a rush behind her; someone caught her . nightdress and they struggled Up and down the path. “I. felt I was being smothered and dying. I felt my face on the gravel path. Then a neighbour arrived and I called out, ‘.Get him.’,” (Proceeding), ... i -—====