Against Themselves

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 356, 17 May 1928, Page 1

Against Themselves

YOUNG GIRLS SHOULD BE PROTECTED TWO YOUNG MEN GAOLED “It is necessary to protect young • girls even, in some cases, against themselves,” said Mr. Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court this morning, when Thorne Mervyn May, aged 20, appeared before him for sentence on a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl aged 14. “It is no defence that the girl consented,” his Honour continued, “and the penal code provides for five years’ imprisonment with hard labour. This class of offence is becoming altogether too common.” Prisoner was sentenced to detention in the Borstal Institute for a period not exceeding two years. “One might almost express the wish that in cases like this the girl as well as the boy might be indicted,” said Mr. Ray, for prisoner, whom he said had hitherto borne a blameless character, with the ex* ception of a minor conviction. He pointed out that the youth’s father was advanced in years, and dependent on his son for assistance. “The police report does not confirm the statement that he has a blameless record. It mentions that some form of restraint is desirable. He first denied the offence, then fully admitted it and intimated that he would plead guilty. He then told a number of lies in Court. Although the jury recommended leniency, I don’t think they knew his record,” said his Honour in passing .sentence. JURY’S RECOMMENDATION Arthur Alexander Lenne, aged 26 (Mr. Hall-Skelton), who pleaded not guilty before Mr. Justice MacGregor yesterday afternoon to a charge of attempted carnal knowledge, was this morning sentenced to a year’s reformative treatment. In his case similarly the jury had returned a verdict of guilty with a strong recommendation fo len% ncy on account of provocation. “Probation is out of the question in a case of this kind,” remarked his Honour. “I should not be doing my duty if T allowed him to be admitted to probation. I intend to give effect to the jury’s recommendation, but for which I would have inflicted a fairly long term of imprisonment.”