CHARGE OF INCEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2790, 27 September 1924, Page 2

CHARGE OF INCEST.

A SISTER’S SILENCE,

Napier Last Night

George David Melville, who was recently arrested in Sydney, and brought hack to the Dominion, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court today charged with committing incest mi December 2, 1918. His mother gave evidence that accused admitted in her presence mis-i-iinduct with his two sisters, but witness had not believed him. The father declined to give evidence because he might implicate himself on a charge of conspiring to defeat Hie ends of justice. Lorna Edwina Melville, sister of accused, who was under sixteen at lia date of the alleged offence, refused to sav who was the father of In-r child, although she hud in the previous case before the. Magistrate a.-crihed its parentage (o accused. Nut withstanding the Magistrate’s •i-'-suianee that witness would not incriniinale herself, she having been under the age of 16 years, and his Worship's warning as to the consequences of her refusal to answer quest ion*, witness persisted ill refusing In answer the question as to who was the father, and when cross examined regarding her evidence in (lie previous case, persisted in the reply: “I don’t remember,” despite a warning that she might he prosecuted for perjury. Accused was committed for trial, hail being refused.