BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A YOUNG WOMAN.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1904, Page 5

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A YOUNG WOMAN.

ASSAILANT COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. In consequence of the rough handling which a young lady received in Majori-banks-street last Friday night Avhen Avalking home from a tram, Robert Burke appeared before Dr. A. M 'Arthur, S.M., this morning 1 , to atisAver a charge of having committed an indecent assault on the lady in question. Burke is a young man who is said to have come to the colony several months ago as a greaser. Since then he has been working about the town and country at any occupation he has been able to get. Evidence for the prosecution Avas givon by the young lady in question to the effect that last Friday night she spent the evening at her sister's house in NewtoAvn. She came into toAvn about 11 o'clock, alighted from the tram at the Royal Oak corner, and walked towards a Nursing Home in Majoribanksstreet, wKere she was staying. A man foHdAved her along Courtenay-place, and ' in Majoribanks-street stepped up behind ' and assaulted her. She screamed loudly, and he put one of his hands on her mouth, and said : "If you don't stop screaming, I'll murder you," and subsequently, "If you don't stop, I'll do for yoH." He also made use of several obscene phrases. Witness continued to scream, and accused with both hands tried to stop the sound. He put one of his hands partly in her mouth, and lacerated her mouth severely. Witness twisted ronnd suddenly, and screamed even louder than before. By this time she had almost fainted. Accused then either pushed her down or let her fall on the pavement. HeT throat was very sore owing to the firm manner in which accused had grasped it. Her side was bruised, elbow cut, and her clothing torn. Accused did not appear to be drank, and did not smell of drink. Norman Raymond, clerk,' residing in Majoribatiks-street, said he heard a woman^ screaming outside his Window, and on looking out saw her struggling with a man. Witness called out to the man, and subsequently sa^r him run away. Witness then shouted "Stop that man running aAvay," and soon afterwards saw a civilian intercept him. Captain Post deposed to having summoned accused to stop. He refused, and witness struck him across the head with a stick, knocked him down, and held him on the ground until the arrival of Constable G. Williams. Accused on being asked if he Avished to enter a plea, said "Guilty," and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.