CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 202, 30 August 1887, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Charge of Assault at Paexell. —Mr John Petford, guardian of the young girl, writes with reference to the above case. He asks, "Why was not the whole of the evidence of the prosecution taken ; also, why the medical gentleman who examined the little girl was not allowed to give his evidence, and he could have proved that this poor child had never during her lifetime had connection with any person, although this was insinuated by defendant's counsel." Our cones, pondent encloses the certificate from Dr. Wright, who states :— " After examination I could find no abrasions, bruises, or marks of violence nor stains upon her linen, and declare her to be in no. way interfered with." The rest of Dr. Wright's certificate shows that the virgin purity of the child is unimpaired. Mr Petford continues : " What child of 13 years of age could stand in a witness-box for two long hours under cross-examination of three legal gentlemen, and even without a guardian being allowed to attend her, so as to give her confidence ? and the-way her evidence was shaken, and she got to make admissions which were untrue, wa3 by fear, and by the manner in which she was spoken to. People 50 and 60 years her senior get unnerved when they enter the witness - box. It was also alleged and hinted in cross-ex-amination that my family were sued in Wellington for two hundred pounds for defamation in a similar case. This is contrary to fact, and to prove that such allegation is untrue and unf ounded,lam prepared to offer the sum of £100 to be given to the public charities of this city if any person or persons in the colony of New Zealand can prove that I or any member of my family were ever sued in this colony for defamation or any other charges of a similar nature as alleged by counsel for the defence." Mr Petford brought the little girl to our office with her certificate for good conduct at the Presbyterian Sundayschool which she attended, and her appearance and replies to the questions put to her certainly did not tend in any measure to confirm the impression of moral delinquency which was set up by counsel for the defence in the Police Court. On the contrary, the girl in her appearance and replies gave every token of being as innocent of any knowledge of wrong as other children of her age.