ATHLETE MAHAN SENT TO GAOL

NZ Truth, Issue 1290, 28 August 1930, Page 3

ATHLETE MAHAN SENT TO GAOL

j .' ■•■ „ _. — +. UNFORTUNATE CASE, SAYS JUDGE, BUT SOCIAL MENACE ' "DANGER TO YOUNG GIRLS " (From . "N.Z: Truth's" Timaru Representative.) Though characterising- the case as ah unfortunate one, Mr. Justice Adams said he would not be doing- his duty if he treated lightly; the offence committed by Harman Archibald Mahan, Wollknown athlete prominent m South Canterbury sporting circles. Having pleaded guilty to a charge of carnally knowing a girl •under the age of sixteen years, Mahan was. stated by the Judge to be a menace to, society. •

. ■ — (f ■ ALTHOUGH, as a remarkably fine .< . athlete, he 'has come prominently ' befqjco the South Canterbury public, 1 Harman Archibald Mahan, a power- i fully-built young .man of 27 years, made his itiost recent public appear- 1 fince not m the realm of sport, but be- s fore a judge of the Supreme Court— < a prisoner for sentence. . J Haying pleaded guilty m the Cliild- ' ren's. Court to a charge of carnally 1 knowing a girl under the age of 16 -3 years, Mahan was sentenced to three years' reformative treatment by Mr. * Justice Adams. • ] The 'happenings which le,d to the arrest of Mahan took • place between J December, 1929, and March, 1930, when J the girl, now a ward .of the State, was * living m the same house ;as Mahan. ' When interviewed by the. Rev, P. 1

Gladstone Hughes, un officer of the ! Child Welfare Department, Mahan made a. clean breast of the. affair, and the sequel was his appearance before : the Children's Court, and subsequent ' sentence to reformative detention. Mahan, who is a splendid type physically, is' one of the best distance , ffwiramers Timaru has produced, and i he was ,an early- winner- of the Speedily Mile Cup, a trophy donated some years ago for the annual harbor race. Mahan also' met with, considerable success as a distance runner, and also competed m amateur .boxing tournaments. ''. ,' - .' "It is difficult for me to make a plea m a .ease 'such as this, 1 - said-Mr. A. D. Mo.Rae, who appeared on behalf of the prisoner. ' ; ..- ' . ■•■: <!l would submit, however," He added, l-'that'the purpose i of legislature and the judiciary m cases ofthis nature has a view to reforming .rather than actually punishing." His Honor: The. court has to take into consideration the protection of -young girls, -.'■■• Mr. Mcßae: That is so, your Honor, but I would point out that the girl, for certain obvious reasons, has since been committed as a ward of the State. The prisoner, as you know, is abnormal . ' . - " " ' His Honor: He is stated to be abnormal, but m what direction? Counsel, m reply, mentioned unusual

circumstances which surrounded the birth of the prisoner, and' in substantiation of this he handed, to the court the statements of two medical men. "The prisoner i^ abnormal m that hehas no sense of restraint or .control, such as is required of decent members of. society," added Mr. Mcßae. "Therefore, I hope that any sentence imposed will have the effect of checking the prisoner and setting: him on'the right path.'i , , , The Crown prosecutor, Mr. W, D. ' Campbell, said that Mahan's trouble was his abnormality.. .■:'. '■.'■■ "It is unfortunate," he added, "that Mahan has the mentality of a youth, although he is an exceptionally fine athlete and a very powerful man' He has an Inclination which requires putting under restraint." In the interest, both of [ Mahan himself and'' of- society, ; concluded Mr. Campbell, he should be placed under control fcr a long period. His Honor agreed that Mahan was abnormal m the direction indicated by the Crown Prosecutor, and this emphasised the necessity fdr dealing with him m such a way as to prevent him from being -a danger to young girls. "T would not be doing my duty if 'l were to treat' this matter lightly," his Honor continued. "The case is an unfortunate one, and I can't, do' pther than' regard the prisoner as a menace to society." "'■■■ . v ' : : ' : _ "» >^^ mm *