MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 58, 8 March 1878, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

[Before 11. E.Cuims ami J. Symoss. E sns J.J.P.] Indecent Assault. The evidence in the case against Florence B. Joseph, for an alleged indecent assault upou Agnes Pobbie, a little girl just over 12 years of age, was not brought to a close until nearly 8 o'clock last night, when the Bench reserved their decision until 2 p.m. to-day, at which hour a large and somewhat excited crowd had assembled in the Court House. Prisoner Laving been warned in the usual way, stated that he should reserve his defeuce. He was then addressed by the Bench as follows :— The evidence in this case shows an amount of depravity in the highest degree, fully confirming the desirability of heaiiug it with closed doors, more particularly as evidence had to be given by females, two of whom were very young girls, ana whose evidence would, have been given

with more reluctance, and would have been more difficalfc to obtain had a number of persons been You, prisoner Joseph, have; apparently, with a cold calculating regard for your own safety as regards the law in your heartless and disgusting conduct in ruining young girls in mind and body, children of between twelve and thirteen years of age only, thought yourself safe from punishment by taking care that the age of twelve was past, and you have pursued your loathsome conduct although yourself the father of a family. The Bench have, however, resolved to send you for trial, and commit you to the next criminal sittings of the District Court. Bail will be allowed — Mr Levy (the father of one of Joseph's victims): As the father of the principal witness I object to bail being allowed. I know that the man is going to run away. Mr Bunny objected to Mr Lerj speaking. It was for the Inspector of Police to raise objections if there were any. The highest penalty to which the prisoner was liable was three years, and the Bench could not refuse such bail as he was prepared to offer except upon very good grounds. The Bench: Bail will be allowed, the [. prisoner in £200, and two sureties in £ 150 each. The sureties were forthcoming in the persons of Messrs W. H. West and James gnu'th.