CORRUPTION OF YOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 999, 16 June 1930, Page 10

CORRUPTION OF YOUTH

JUDGE S COMMENT ON SERIOUS OFFENCES EX-CORONER SENTENCED From Our Otcn Correspondent HAMILTON, Today. On behalf of James Walter BarrBrown, a former coroner and J.P., of Putaruru, who pleaded guilty of two charges of Indecent assault, Mr. C. It. Mac Diarmid at the Supreme Court today suggested that his client should be subjected to a surgical operation. Prisoner, said counsel, was a widower aged 51, with one child aged seven. Until the commission of the present crimes prisoner had borne an unblemished career and had done good service for public bodies, but the last few years he had been a victim of misfortune. Five years ago he lost his wife, and later his house was destroyed by fire. Recently, his business had failed. Apparently the crimes were due to physical abnormality and three medical certificates agreed that an operation would be of value. Mr. Justice Herdman, addressing tho prisoner said it was a tragedy to find a man in prisoner's position. “I cannot put you on probation for these disgusting offences, which have been going on for a considerable time.” said his Honour. Not only have you been guilty of disgusting offences yourself, but you have been corrupting the youth of the community. I would not be doing my duty if I did not send you to prison.”

The judge said he would take into account the medical reports, but there must be hundreds of men in the Dominion suffering from similar trouble, but they did not indulge in practices similar to those of prisoner. The question of an operation was one for the Prisons Board. Prisoner was sentenced to five years’ reformative treatment.