A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8835, 11 June 1907, Page 3

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Presss Association. Auckland, Juno 10. Ernest Claude Sheppard, a well-dressed youth aged 10, pleaded not guilty at the Criminal Court before Mr Justice Denniston to a charge of committing a criminal assault upon a. girl over the age of sixteen. The evidence was that the girl whoso ago is 19, was an employee of a typist having an office in a block of Queen-siroet buildings, and accused a dork in an insurance office on the ground floor. Accused occasionally saw the girl, and during a conversation in a passage he playfully took a ring off her finger. Two or three days later he ascertained what time she left the office and was waiting for her between 5 and 6 o’clock when he told her she could have the ring back if she came into the office. Taking her into an inner office he looked the door and committed the offence against her will

Mr Tole said that the facts were admitted, the only question being whether the girl gave her consent. The principal witness said no offence had ever been previously committed upon her. When the offence had been committed by Sheppard, another youth came in and expressed his intention of interfering with her, but he desisted when she cried out. Dr Lewis said there were no marks of violence and if she had resisted ha would have expected to find some marks. His Honor referred in strong terms to the frequency of sexual crime and declared that an extremely sound physical correction would be the way to punish accused. However* they were not trying him for improper conduct, but for a serious criminal offence.A verdict of acquittal was-returned by the jury, who requested the foreman to state that they regretted the accused could not be punished for his blackguardly conduct. His Honor: “ 1 quite agree with that.” Accused was discharged.