AS ILLEGAL KISS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13265, 20 April 1907, Page 5

AS ILLEGAL KISS.

SANCTITY OF THE HOME. A MISSIONER FINED. Per Press Association. ASHBURTON, April 19. During the past week, a good deal of interest has been taken in a case affecting an evangelist who, for fully six weeks, has been conducting religious services in the town, known as the "Hamilton Garmong Mission." The case was heard at Court to-day when 0. E. Hamilton was charged before two- Justices with having on March 22nd, at the house of a married Avoman, Louisa Nesbit, conunitfced an-unlawful assault,.the assauk consisting in defendant going to the house of complainant and without her consent, placing his arm round her waist and kissing her. Defendant gave an absolute denial to the accusation, and called John Gait; Mayor of Mataura, and the- Rev. W. J. Hastie, of Dunedin, to give .evidence as to his character. In giving judgment, the Bench said: "'The°case before the Court is for uri aa-i-ault; the question, of the moral character of plaintiff has nothing to do with the case. Mrs Nesbit gave her evidence in a straightforward way, and it was not shaken by crops-examination, and there is corroborative evidence that her evidence has not! been shaken at all. The defence! was evidently an attempt to point that there has been conspiracy among the four witnesses, who gave evidence for the prosecution. We find evidence of no such conspiracy. The sanctity of the home must be protected, and we are of .opinion -.that an assault took place, and we fine the defendant £5 and costs." / Counsel for the defendant asked for leave for a rehearing and an appeal owing to the prominent position occupied by the defendant.