FOUND GUILTY

Southland Times, Issue 21773, 30 July 1932, Page 6

FOUND GUILTY

ASSAULT ON CHINESE. CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG MEN. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, July 29. Albert Ernest Clifton, aged 22, and Leonard Humphreys, aged 23, were found guilty of assaulting a Chinese, Ah Lai, so as to cause actual bodily harm and with assaulting Lai. The jury disagreed on the most serious charge, that of robbery with violence. Sentence was deferred. Flat denials that they visited the premises with the motive of robbery and allegations that they had been induced to make written statements to Detective Hayhurst in which they allegedly admitted their guilt on a promise that a girl would not be brought into the case were made by the accused. They further alleged in the witness box that their purpose in going to the shop was to warn the Chinaman from associating with white girls. In cross-examination the girl, who had been referred to as Peggy Johnstone, and who gave her name as Margaret Johnstone, after first denying it, admitted that she had been living with Humphreys as man and wife and that she was at Ah Lai’s place that night. Summing up, his Honour criticized the defence and the allegations made against the detective, while the case had assumed a serious aspect because of the very gross charge that had been made against Detective Hayhurst.