ICE-CREAM FOR CHILD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 850, 19 December 1929, Page 13

ICE-CREAM FOR CHILD

STRANGER’S GENEROSITY RESULTS IN FINE MAGISTRATE’S CENSURE ‘‘Don’t interfere with strange children. If you want to buy ice-creams for them or play with them, the proper thing to do is to make the acquaintance of their parents first.” —Thus Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this morning, convicting Cecil Hollings Green on a charge of assault. Green, an accountant, aged 50, was charged with assaulting a girl aged six years. An alternative charge of indecent assault was withdrawn by the police. Mr. Noble appeared for accused and entered a plea of not guilty. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said that a little girl aged six had been playing on the Parade at Devonport. Accused had bought her ice-creams and sat her on his knee. It was then that the alleged offence had taken place. A married woman who had been seated on a bench nearby gave evidence corroborating the sub-inspector’s statement. Accused had been kissing the girl and playing with her. Constable Leslie said that accused had been accosted following a complaint by the child’s father. He had then explained that he did not think he was doing any harm. He was very fond of children. Mr. Noble said that Green was a stranger in a strange country, having arrived by the Niagara a few weeks ago. He had bought ice-cream for most of the children playing near him. The particular girl referred to had taken a fancy to him and came to sit by him.

Remarking that Green was lucky not to be facing a more serious charge, the magistrate imposed a fine of £lO, in default a month’s imprisonment.