ASSAULT ON CHILD.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1924, Page 2

ASSAULT ON CHILD.

man gaoled. iiv Tin.Kon.u’ir —viikss assn., coevuioiiT. GIHIORNK. October C. ‘•My duty is to protect children, especially little girls, fmin molestation on the street ftoin tilings which are filthy and idittpl. both in mind ami hotly. L cannot take the fact that you had drink inlu consideration. Children must he protected. So staled Magistrate bevvy in sentencing accused, a middle-aged man. named John Bailey, charged with assault on a little girl, ail'd with the use of onscene language. The gill, who was aged nine years said she was waiting outside tt book-sell-r's on -Saturday night, while her father went- into a tobacconist's for a shave. A man came up and asked what stories she liked. Site said ’* Little stories." lie said he would buy her a hook of Bible stories, ami give her live shillings, il sin- came round the corner with him. and he made ait im-i-roper .suggestion. She wouldn't go. He put his arms around her neck, as if to persuade her.

The police said accused was not drunk. He had said he had a slight rectdlot-lion ;:! speaking to a girl.

Accused said to the Magistrate: “ft is a .shocking affair, hm nothing like that entered my head. I had a lot iff drink. I must have said something to the girl, or she couldn't have dreamed it."

Accused was (onvicted. and was sentenced to six months’ hard labour, followed hv eighteen months’ reformative detention.

On a se: end charge he was convicted and dismissed.