INDECENT ASSAULT UPON A CHILD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 203, 22 May 1919, Page 6

INDECENT ASSAULT UPON A CHILD

AN EXEMPLARY SENTENCE. Uy Telegraph.—Preiu Association.' Auckland, Muv 21. The exemplary sontence of five .years' imprisonment wa9 imposed this morning on John Davies, who was charged at the Supremo Court, before Mr. .lustice Stringer, with committing an .indecent assault upon u little girl, aged 81 yeiirs. "You have been convicted of a . very serious offence, committed with deliberation," said His Honour, in passing sentence. "If is deplorable 'that little children should be liable to maltreatment by men. of your stamp. The frequency of such eases, especially in this district, leads me to think that the Judges should take into serious consideration whether they should not take advantage of the powers they possess and administer, in addition to imprisonment, the punishment of Hogging. Judges are naturally reluctant to impose such a brutulisiiig punishment, but if it. is not possible for children to travel <iiong a, public road in safety, something must he done to deter such in"ii as you. I do""liot intend to order a Hogging in vour ca«e. 1 merely llirow out the suggestion as a warning. ' When you committed the .if'Voiico you may have been to some extent under Ihe influence of liquor, but: Mr evidence shows preinpditat'on. 1 should not be justified in sentencing you to other than a long term of imprisonment which will at. any r;ilo free the roads of you. The sentence of the Court is that you be imprisoned for five years."