NO GREAT CONCERN

NZ Truth, Issue 1239, 29 August 1929, Page 8

NO GREAT CONCERN

Girl's Admission of Folly

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) It was a startling revelation of youthful folly that Mr. Justice Kennedy and a jury listened to m the Dunedin Supreme Court. CTANDING on the Balclutha bridge talking to a friend one afternoon, John Milne, aged 20, turned round to meet the girl who was to be his companion m folly. Milne left his friend and took his new-found companion, aged 14, for a walk and when near the golf links they moved off the road. When Milne inquired the girl's age, she told him that she was 13, but he was sceptical, and doubted her, so she told him she was 14, then 15, and finally said she was 16 years old. On April 20 the pair met again by appointment. This time they wandered a few chains from the girl's home, and finally took leave of each other about midnight. It was not until May 24 that the pair met again. ".How long this .conduct would have lasted is difficult to say, but the police stepped into the picture and the youth " was interviewed. On the facts he was sent for trial. . "The conduct of this youth is utterly reprehensible, although the girl is evidently a bad girl," said Mr. F. B. Adams, opening . the case for the Crown. In a statement taken by the police, and which vas * read, Milne admitted the offences, and stated that although the girl told him she Was 13, and then made it 16, he did not know what to think. „ Rather tall m stature, but certainly giving the impression of being older than her years, the girl admitted the acts of indiscretion. She told the jury she used to meet Milne every time she went home for a week-end, which, was once .during , each month. "A.re you still friendly with Milne?" asked Mr. A. C. Hanlon, who defended the youth. Witness: Yes, and we are fond •of each other and I want to be his sweetheart. -. It is true that he wanted you to go out with him as much as you could?— l Tes, and the first time I went with, him I told him I was 16. -yln the opinion of Detective W. Roycroft, who interviewed Milne, the girl certainly looked older than she was, while Dr. G. D. Radcliffe, of Balclutha, said that if the girl had told him she was. over 16 he would have believed her. With these facts before them the jury deliberated less than half an hour, before returning with a verdict of not guilty, and Milne was freed.