A SORDID STORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2124, 6 May 1920, Page 3

A SORDID STORY.

WAIKATO FAR ME ICS CASE,

A Waikato ('ass of a rather unpleasant nature was revived in the Court of Appeal at Wellington yesterday, when the admissibility of certain evidence given at the trial of Gilbert Langdon was considered.

Lampion was tried before Mr Justice Cooper at the March sittings of the Supreme Court at Hamilton on an indictment charging him with, ini November 10th, 101 S, at Te Puke, having unlawfully carnally known Mabel Dunton Fairley, who was under sixteen years of age. 'The girl was horn on December 181 h, 1002, and attained the age of sixteen years on December 18th, 1018. She was, therefore, on November 10th, 1018, a little over fifteen years and ten months. The prosecution was commenced six months after the offence. ■Langdon was arrested on April 30th, 10.10, and was tried twice (luring the year al Hamilton, hut the juries were unable to agree. At a third triad, in March last, Langdon was found guilty. Langdon is a farmer, and is married. In April, 1918, ho was living at Paengaroa, and later on lic went to Te Puke. The girl entered Langdon’s service in April, 1918, and continued in his service until February, 1919. The girl's evidence was that Langdoivs first interference with her was on November sth, 1918, when he acted indecently toward her, and that on November 10th', 1918, he had intercourse with her. Counsel for the Crown .stated that he proposed to ask the girl to state what was the prisoners conduct towards her after November l()(h, 1918, and up to the time she left his employment. Langdoivs counsel objected la the admission of evidence of Langdoivs conduct to the girl subsequent’ to November 10th being admitted. Air Justice Cooper admitted the evidence, but reserved a ease for the Court of Appeal to decide whether or not the evidence was admissible.

The evidence, in short, was of frequent intercourse after November 10th.

Sentence on Langdon was postponed pending the decision of the question, and Langdon was admitted to, bail.

The appeal was heard by the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Edwards, Mr Justice Cooper, Mr Justice Chapman, and Mr Justice Herdraan, Air J. Preudeville represented the Crown Law Office, and Mr 0. J. Hodge appeared for Langdon, After hearing Mr Hodge, the Chief Justice said that he was of opinion that the evidence was admissible, and that the conviction should stand. Evidence of what occurred immediately after the girl became sixteen could be used to help to prove what occurred immediately before she was sixteen. The other members of the bench concurred.