SUPREME COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8768, 20 March 1907, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

Per Press Association. Nelson, March 20. At the Supreme Court to-day Jolm William Hawkes, convicted of indecent assault on a girl under eight, was recomniend&d to mercy and admitted to probation for twelve months on the ground of thirty-six years blameless life in New Zealand. Justice Demiiston said offoncos against women and children must he closely watched and severely dealt with. Much might be said in favour of accused and the offence had been only slight without actual indecency, but accused had not told the truth and in such circumstances probation should not always be granted. He took into consideration the extreme age of accused and that tho offence was nothing more than an act of impropriety, so granted probation, hut only in exceptional cases would this be done, and His Houour desires this be made as public as possible.