SHOCKING CASES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 133, 15 June 1901, Page 3

SHOCKING CASES.

AN ABANDONED GIRL,

RESULTS OF GRIME,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Invorcargill, last night.

To-day, the Supreme Court took two charges arising out o! the Wyndham case, in which Barbara Cushnio, a girl of 14, gavo birth to a child, which was accidentally smothered. . Neil Douglas was charged with indecently [assaulting the girl on several occasions." Tho offence was practically admitted, the defence being that-ho believed her to be 10. . t , Accused went into tho box, and stated that his quarters were in tho barn when ho was on tho girl’s father’s farm, and that sho caino there of her own volition. 110 thought from her conversation, maunor of dress, and hor carrying on that sho was ovor 16. 'ln summing up. Judge Cooper said tms was a terrible case. This girl of thirtoon Boomed to have had her own way, and to some extent developed vicious tendencies. Tho jury found Douglas guilty. His Honor passed sentence of three years’ imprisonment. His Honor took into consideration that the girl did not seem to have been properly trained, and possibly held out as an inducement to ■ accused, but a law had been passed to protect such girls. Johu Woods, aged 23, charged with tho samo offence on the samo girl, pleaded guilty. His Honor said this case was of an entirely different character. The ruin of the girl could not be laid at Wood’s door. Tho° other prisoner first debauched the girl, and it was to some extent because of the offence committed by Douglas that Woods was led into this crime. He thought he would be doing his duty, b} giviim prisoner a chance to redeem himself, and he hoped he would take advantage of it. Prisoner was admitted to probation for 12 months on paying ten pounds costs.