EARLY MORNING PROWLER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 113, 16 May 1939, Page 8

EARLY MORNING PROWLER

VISITS TO HOSPITAL GROUNDS SERIES OF CHARGES PRISONER TO BE SENTENCED [ Per Press Association ] AUCKLAND, May 15. Eight charges involving assault so as to cause actual bodily harm, indecent assault, theft and being a rogue and vagabond, were preferred against William Scarbroa, aged 53, labourer, in the Police Court. Scarbroa was charged with assaulting Constable Douglas Kiigour, so as to cause actual bodily harm, with assaulting a married woman employed as a maid at the Huia Private Hospital, so as to cause actual bodily harm and with indecently assaulting a married woman employed at a private hotel in Khyber Pass, also with thefts of women’s clothing valued at £1 9s and £1 7s 3d from the Catholic Mission Home, and with three charges of being a rogue and a vagabond in that he was found at night without lawful excuse on the premises of Humphrey Bellamy at Beresford Street, in the yard of the Huia Hospital, Grafton Road, and in the enclosed yard of a maternity hospital. Severe Blow on Head. Douglas Kiigour, police constable, said that on the night of April 17 he was on patrol duty in the. grounds of St. Helen’s Hospital, in Pitt Street. Shortly before 2.30 a.m., as he passed round the back of the clinic building he heard a rustling noise. He Hashed his torch and immediately felt his helmet falling and he received a severe blow on the head. Witness fell backwards to the ground and he knew he was becoming unconscious. He regained consciousness in St. Helen’s Hospital. A nurse at St. Helen’s Hospital said that she was in the preparation room of the main building and heard a noise as though somebody were knocking. On opening the door she found Constable Kiigour lying unconscious. Detective Gillum said that he searched the grounds of St. Helen s Hospital and found a safety razor blade with a small red stain on one corner. Witness also found a piece of wood and a torch. William Edlin, freezing works employee, residing next door to St. Helen’s Hospital, said that he hard a noise in the yard some time between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on April IJ. He got out of bed, and going to the window Hashed a torch. By the light he saw accused, who made off and ran down Pitt Street. Accused had in hk> hand a “waddy.” Somebody at Bedside. A married woman, employed at a private hotel in Khyber Pass, described how she twice felt somebody at her bedside during the early hours of the morning on April 12. On the second occasion she saw a man al the window but he made off. A married woman, employed as a maid at the Huia Private Hospital, said that whilst in bed about 2.1 U a.m. on the morning of April 29 she was awakened by hearing something bang against the wall of tne room. Sne felt a pain, in her head and was ciazed. The window was open and witness was too scared to call out. Whilst lying there she heard the matron call out to somebody: “What are you doing there?” On the bed witness found a tile (produced). She had a wound on the head and blood was on the pillow of the bed. Constable Hull said he was on special duty in the grounds of tne Huia Hospual on April 29. At 12.15 a.m. witness saw a man creep up and stand by the window of the matron’s room. Witness questioned him and deeming the reply unsatisfactory arrested the man, who was accused. Accused’s Statements. In seven statements made by accused to Detective Sneddon, accused explained how the offences were committed. He said he returned to Auckland from Putaruru about April 6, since when he had not been sleeping very well. He did not retire until alter 3 a.m. but wandered about tne streets. “I have been in the habit of going into hospital grounds on several occasions during the early hours of the morning,’’ said Scarbroa. “1 have been in St. Helen’s grounds several times. 1 used to look in the windows of the nurses' home and also went inside the door and up to their rooms.” In another statement accused said that he went to the Huia Hospital about 12.30 a.m, on April 27. He looked in the window of a room which was in darkness and saw a woman lying in bed. “I had a brick tile in my nand and threw it in tne window and on the bed where the woman was,” he added. “1 stood there lor a while and a woman looked, out of another window and said to me: ‘vVhat are you doing there?’ I then walked out of the gate. 1 did not answer her. 1 wanted to make the woman get up to see her getting out of bed. I expected she wouid switch on the light. I did not intend to injure the woman with the brick, but 1 intended to hit her with it.” Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. On each of the two charges of theft accused was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent.