SUFFERED WITH HEART

NZ Truth, Issue 1263, 13 February 1930, Page 7

SUFFERED WITH HEART

Business Man's Despicable Conduct To Masseuse

SIX MONTHS' GAOL THE PENALTY (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Duuedin Representative.) That m replying to "wanted" advertisements young womeu and girls should be wary of a certain, type of niaji who uses the newspaper columns to decoy credulous womenfolk, was exemplified m the Dunedin Supreme Court when Daniel Boyce (54) was 'convicted' on a charge of committing an indecent act, intending thereby to insult or offend a woman. He was sentenced to six f ' months' hard labor. ..

BOYCE, carrying on business as a patentee m the Octagon, advertised with; the object of attracting the" attention of young women willing to learn massage work. His behavior towards one single young woman who answered one of his advertisements brought the business man to trial on two charges, on one of which the jury convicted. Before Mr. Justice* Kennedy, Boyce, represented by Mr. C. J. L. Whfe, pleaded not guilty to the offence charged, and to having committed an indecent act, intending thereby to insult or offend a woman. Mr. F. B. Adams conducted the case for the Crown. %. Sabina Teresa Forde, single woman, stated that m the "Evening Star" of November 27, she saw the following advertisement: "Wanted, young lady, learn massage, evenings; small salary to commence." ■ She replied to the "ad.," and subsequently visited Boyce at his rooms m the Octagon. After two interviews with Boyce, she was engaged to massage him five evenings a week for. a weekly wage of 7/6. "He told me his heart had to be massaged, as he had a lot of fat round the heart, and a doctor at Guy's Hospital, London, had advised him to have massage. . . . He said that he had more than forty applicants for the position. lie said that he had several other masseuses, 'but he could not get them to stay with him." In answer to Mr. White, Miss Forde stated that Boyce was supposed to teach her how to massage, and that she made up her .mind to stick it out, as she thought masseuses had to contend with certain unpleasant duties. Dr. W. Evans gave evidence to the effect that he had examined Boyce thoroughly, and could find no organic defect which might necessitate massage! Detective A. Jenvey stated that when interviewed by himself and Der tective-sergeant Nuttall, Boyce, m a statement, admitted having been massaged -by the girl, but denied any. misbehavior. Arthur Watson, a chemist's "assist r ant, stated that m September and October Boyce called' and requested to be supplied with a powder suitable for flesh-reduction. • "I made up some powder—mcdi- , cated talcum powder, and sent it

| round to him," said Watson. "It I was ordinary massage powder, and | I did not say it would be suitable for reducing flesh. I did not think it would do him any good." For the defence, Mr. White called two female witnesses, who gave evidence m the lower court, for the Crown,. but who were not called m that capacity m the Supreme Coui't. Mrs. Mary O. Sutton stated that subsequent to answering one of Boyce's advertisements she had been .employed by him for a period of two months. During that time she had not noticed him behave m a manner that was absolutely objectionable to her. Rita McEneany, described ,as a do,mestic, gave evidence along similar lines. She stated ,,that she had been employed by accused from October until about . Christmas time, and during that time she had not noticed anything improper on the part of Boyce. After twenty-five minutes 1 consideration the jury returned with an acquittal on the first charge, and a verdict of guilty on the charge of indecent behavior with intent to insult or offend. Boyce was sentenced to six months' hard labor.