SEXUAL OFFENCE ALLEGED

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1930, Page 10

SEXUAL OFFENCE ALLEGED

MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Upon pleading not guilty, Alexander Edwards, alias John Alexander Wilson, was yesterday committed for trial to the Supreme Court at New Plymouth on charges of communicating a certain disease, attempted carnal knowledge of a girl aged ten years, and indecent assault. All the allegations related to one set of circumstances dated “on or about March 1, at New Plymouth.” The preliminary hearing was taken before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. Mr. G. Macallan represented Edwards. According to the evidence led for the prosecution by Detective A. B. Meiklejohn the mother of the girl, lived apart' from her husband and went to work during the day. It was her custom to go home for several hours in the afternoon and finally at 7 or 8 o’clock at night. The eldest daughter kept house. Edwards, who was known as “Bluey Wilson,” and who sold ' mops' in the town, used to go to the house in the evenings and have supper there. Sometimes he put one of the boys, to bed and he would lie down beside him tiH he went to sleep. One night, it was alleged, he called the youngest girl to him and, pulling her on to the bed, interfered with her. He left the town on the day of the Opunake races. Subsequently the child was sent to hospital for treatment. It was after she -was discharged as cured that she told her mother what had happened. .

Edwards was said to have told the mother that he was an Australian and that his parents were in Australia. He led her to believe he had been. in Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch. Medical evidence was given by Dr. C. A. Taylor, physican at the hospital, and by Dr. S. C. Allen in his capacity as prison doctor. Detective said Edwards wa arrested bn warrant at Morrinsville on Alay 9. Following his production of a bag containing medicines he told the detec’tive that he had contracted a disease at Patea, but had almost cured himself with medicine bought from a chemist. He admitted having gone to the girl’s house about 24 times, but said he would prefer H see a solicitor before making a statement. That morning, continued the detective, he again interviewed Edwards and warned him that whatever he might say could be used as evidence. He told Wilson (as he then knew him) that; he had been informed his real name was Alexander Edwards. Edwards admitted that was his correct name, but said he had been goihg under the name of J. A. Wilson since 1925.