A MENACE TO SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 219, 16 March 1914, Page 6

A MENACE TO SOCIETY.

Jl'DtlE SPEAKS OUT. PARENTS' SENSELESS I'KUDKUY. Tli(! rniutstko of parents in not supplying their children with knowledge of tin; human iiiacliiiic was eoniiiieiitcd on severely by Mr. Justici* Dcnniston at thi! Supreme Court at Christchurch lait week, .wlien sentencing Frank Morton, who hail admitted acts of indigency. Addressing Morton, his Honor said: "You have pleaded guilty to two charges of having done tin indecent act, intending thereby to offend certain persons. The depositions show that not only were your acts of the most disgusting character, but that yon had taken deliberate pains to get the presence ol boys before whom you committed them. You gave a ridiculous explanation of the motive for your conduct. You admit that your sexual instincts are entirely beyond your control. You tire, in fact, a sexual maniac, and therefore a menace to society. For this you are in a sense not responsible. Your condition is the result of evil habits ae quired in your youth. I have more than once' commented on the senseless prudery, which leaves children without warning oir such points. No semible man would willingly entrust a complicated piece of machinery to tin ignorant mechanic. Hut parents and teachers are content to leave children without any knowledge of that marvellous machine, the human body.

"If [ had merely to punish you, I could take these matters into consideration. But your condition is such that. both for your'sake and that of society, you should, properly, be put under permanent restraint until you were cured, if cure is possible. You have been medically examined, and, as I expected, have been found technically sane.

"Ordinary gaol life can do you no good. I have, however, ascertained that the gaol arrangements in the. reformatory institution at. Invercargill provide some facilities for dealing specially with cases such as yours. It is necessary that the power to detain you should he a lengthy one.

"You have been convicted of two acts, the maximum sentence for which is two years. I shall order you for reformative treatment for two years in each case—four years in all, to be recommended to he sent to Invercargill. It will depend upon yourself whether you are released at an earlier period."