At the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday, before Messrs E. G. Allen (mayor) and A. Thom son, J.P., an elderly man named John Ducket* was charged on the information of Sergeant Finnegan with criminally assaulting Rosina Poulsou, his stepdaughter, a child of between 10 and 12 years of age, on or about July 17. The charge was heard with closed doors, and the evidence is totally unfit for publication. After hearing the statements of the little girl, Dr Drysdale, Sergeant Finnegan, and Constable Porter, their worships committed the accused for trial.
