A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17170, 13 October 1923, Page 1

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

ALLEGED ADMINISTERING CHLOROFORM. Pee Press Association. OTAKI, October 13. George Ayre, a motor driver and mechanic, was arrested by the police on a charge of assaulting Misses Cotterell and Parata, employed at the seaside kiosk. It is alleged that while the girls were asleep, the man effected an entrance to the kiosk by means of a fanlight and made his way to the bedroom of the women. Here, it is said, he applied a handkerchief saturated with chloroforin to Miss Parata’s face, and despite her struggles, succeeded in rendering her unconscious by means of the anaesthetic.

Having disposed of Miss Parata. he then turned his attention to Miss dotterel 1. It is alleged that he caught the girl round the neck and held her. Miss Ootterell, thus rudely awakened, .struggled with the intruder and screamed loudly for help.

Miss Ootterell succeeded in fighting off the assailant though, by the time help arrived, she was almost in a state of collapse. The ..police were at once informed, with the result that Ayre was arrests ed.

When brought before the Court, a remand till October 18 was asked for and granted. Bail was refused. It is said that accused was, until recently, engaged to Miss Ootterell, but it had been broken off.