A "QUACK" IN TROUBLE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12710, 1 December 1909, Page 2

A "QUACK" IN TROUBLE.

-. _ «». j CHARGE OF.INDECSNT ASSAULT. ! ACCIT.-i'OD COMMITTED FOR Till A I' The charge against William Henry Joseph Kingston, a labourer, aged 5-3, joi indecently assaulting^ a young tiatl?a CQ°uit s l'Mter(kj r IJL I fofL 1 liif J. S. Evans, S^M., Sergeant Dougan prosecuting. The evidence of Ellen Julia Buxton was continued. Witness Stated that accused brought the document (known as Elsie's confession) into the diningroom for her to sign on the day that Elsie's father came to take her away. She told accused that it was not legal, as she had not seen it written, but that she would sign it, knowing that ib was in Elsie's handwriting. She did. not read the document through, but she was aware of its contents. The document was written a few days before she .signed it. Accused told her that Elsie had made a confession, but he did not tell her that he had dictated it to her. She heard accused threaten io expose Elsie if she returned home. Witness was very emphatic that Elsie s behaviour while she was in tho house j was quite correct and proper — before her. Certain, conversations alleged by accused to have taker! place at her table were never held. Allegations in the accused's statement to the police: in regard to certain conversations which took place in her presence were "absolutely false." Certain other matters mentioned in accused's statement were also quite wrong. Accused had a very defective memory — she had prqfved that. Accused was a psyehomotrist, and worked through supovnaUwai powers. She attributed accused's defective memory to the trances he went under. Accused told her that he was known as "the famous W. H. Kingston, the great magnetic hoalor." He told her that he had cured Dr. B , of Sydney, after fourteen doctors had given him up, and af tor he had been unconscious for four days. He also said that he had cured Lady J . She most indignantly denied that she was cognisant of the proceedings that were alleged to have gone: on in liqi 1 lion so. Accused told her that lie inherited this great power from his mother and grandmother. She was a disciple of Count Mattci. Cross-examined by accused, witness said that when Elsie left the last time she said that she had nothing to say against accused, and that she was quite satisfied with the treatment she had received. She asked this question in consequence of something she had overheard. She heard a dispute between accused and Elsie one day about a letter, and she called out to Elsie, "Give up tho letter at once." The gill had ample opportunity of making complaint if she had any, and Elsie cv'wd bitterly irhr.n she had to go home. She had heard accused threaten to send Elsie homo if she went out nt night. She had hoard accused tell Elsie that her mother's instructions were that she was not to go out of a night. Elsie cried, and said that she was not going to put up with it. She hoard accused tell her if she wanted to go out she could go with his wife rind little boy. She never heard any disturbance in the house about clothes ; flip believed Mrs Kingston had lent Elsie some underclothes. Harry C. Fitzsimmons, plain clothes constable, stated that on 30th October ho received a communication from accused, and visited accused's home. Accused told him that he had a serious rase against Elsie'. 1 ; father and her f ister. Accused then told him what it w.is, and said ho had a paper about it wiiiten by the girl. Witness asked to see it," and after some hesitation accused took it i'rom his pocket. He pointed out io accused that it was dated 20th August, and asked why he had not reoorted it before. Accused replied that ho was waiting for further proof. After further conversation Accused handed him the statement, aid r-M.id, "You can see the girf. in half an hour's time, as she is out now." The statement was signed by Mrs Buxton and Mrs Kingston, and he asked accused if they saw Elsie sign it, and ho replied, 'Tcs." Later he saw Elsie at accused's house, in tho presence of accused. She was crying and much agitated. Witness showed her the statement, and she admitted wi-.iting it. W tones-, s asked, "Is it pajjsu J>H ,/s^t., \v.\x oi|s |mv „, m'U} her to come with him as he wanted 'to get further particulars, and she said, "Oh, no, I won't say anything against my father." She would not come to the police station. Accused then cauio to the station, and made a voluntary statement, which was taken down, and signed by accused. On Ist November he saw accused again, and he handed him a second statement. On 2nd November, in company with Sergeant Dougan, he visited Elsie's 1 nir.o to investigate the complaint, 'the next day ho saw accused, and risked him if' Elsie's father had lent him £5, and he said "Yes." Witness also asked accused if he treated Elsie for appendicitis while she was at his house, and ho said ■Yes." He said that he treated her for inflammation of the bowels, and she also had symptoms of appendicitis. Accused told him that he was a magnetic healer, but did not practice now to any extent. Accused said that ho had practiced at Sydney, and also at Whangarei for five years. Accused told him that his treatment consisted of passing tho hands magnetically over the affected parts; sometimes holding them there ; and if it was internal trouble he used hot water packs. Ho asked accused if he passed his hands over the bare fiVsli, and he replied "Yes, but some' ; .nes 1 treat over tinclothes, too." Witness askod accused how he diagnosul the patinnt, and he replied that its soon as ho caught hold of a person's hand he rould tell if that person was sid'oring- from a disease, and where it was locl'.'d. If they had a pain in any particular spot he felt it in the same spot in his own body. Witness asked him if he had boon treating ivsie, and he said that he was treating Elsie for about a fortnight. Witness asked if accus-vd rubbed her bare stomach with his hinds, and lie replied, "Yes, but Mrs. Buxton was present all the tune. Accused said that he put his hand through the opening of Elsie's dross. Accused admitted putting his hand up Elsio's clothes. Witness then asked accused how, he first suspected that Elsie had been misconducting herself with her father, and, if he could read the tea cup. Accused said "Yes." Accused then said that about a month ago, when Elsie came to have her teeth fixed up, she gave him her tea cup to read, and accused described to him what he saw. Mrs Buxton was in and out of the shed during this conversation. On loth November he arrested accused on tho present charge. Accused said he was as innocent of tho cliarae as a child unborn, that lie "did nut know whether Elsie was a man or a woman. All he did was to treat her for pains in the stomach. Accused further said that it was only through spite that ho was arrested, because he had shown up her father and brother, and that Sirs Buxton was in j the- room the whole time he ( treated , Elsie. Accused ai'so said ho had treated another woman in a similar way, and if ifc was indecent assault on Elsie it was indecent assault on the other woman. At the police station accused said, "It is only spite "on the part of a liar of a girl, who has proved herself a liar by writing down a statement and then denying it." At the gaol accused .said he did not want to treat the girl at all, but Mrs Buxton brought, her in to him as she was .streaming with pains in the stomach. Accused said thai .witness' evldeilco. was perfectly correct, except that he did not put. his hand up underneath Elsie's clothes, He put his hands underneath.", from the top of the skirt. If he said ''undeiineath" to the witness then lie made a mistake, and'raugt submit to the inevitable. This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. Asked if he had anything to say, accused replied that he was not guilty of any. indecent assault. • , Accused then pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. • ! Bail was not applied for.