SEXUAL CRIME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 11 June 1907, Page 2

SEXUAL CRIME.

Per Press Association. Auckland, .June 10. fa-nest Claude Slu.ppurd, a wcll-droiscd youth, aged Hi, ple'u.lod not guilty at Ihe Cnuinal I'oml, before j\lr Justice 'Deiuiiston, to a charge of committing 11 criininnl assault upon a girl over the age of sis teen.

The evidence was that the, gi,-|, whose ago is 10, was an employee of a typist ] having an o/lice in a block of Queen street buildings, and accused a clerk in an insurance office 011 the ground lloor. Accused occasionally saw (he girl, and during a conversation in a passage lie, playfully (ook a ring off lier linger. Two or three days later lie ascertained what iiine she left the office, and was waiting for her between 5 and (i o'clock, when he told her she could have the ring back if she came into the office. Taking her into an inner room, lie locked the door and committed the offence, against her will.

Mr Tolo said that the facts were admitted, tlie only question being whether the girl gave her consent. The principal witness, cross-examined, said no offence had ever been previously committed upon her. When the offence hud been committed by Sheppard another youth came in, and expressed .his intention of interfering with her, but desisted when she cried out. Dr. Lewis said there were no marks of violence. If she had resisted, he would have expected (0 have found some marks. His Honor referred in strong terms to the frequency of sexual crime, and declared 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 hy the jury, who requested the foreman to state they regretted the accused conld not be punished for his blackguardly conduct. ' His Honor: I quite aarce with that. Accused was discharged.