A SHARP SENTENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 120, 22 May 1901, Page 4

A SHARP SENTENCE.

TEN YEARS' HAW) LABOUR AND

TWO FLOGGINGS.

A VICIOUS PRISONER

At the Supreme Court last evening the jury returned a verdict of guilty against the young man Robert Henry Anbury, who was charged with having attempted to commit rape on a young woman named Florence May O'Connor, at Waihi. The evidence was very clear against the prisoner, who was caught in the act of forcing the woman by a constable who was passing, and who heard her screams. Other evidence was also given, including that of the woman herself. While- the case was proceeding^ during the afternoon, the Grand Jury, at the conclusion of their labours' handed in a presentment to His Honor Mr Justice Conolly commenting on ths large number of cases of indecent as« sault on women and children, and ex« pressing the opinion that the punishmi'nts hitherto inflicted for these offences were not sufficiently severe to act as a deterrent.

His Honor thanked the Grand Jury, and said he would forward the presentment to the propei' authorities;

In passing sentence on Anbury, His. Honor referred to the Grand Jury's recommendation on the subject of assaults of this character, and said he agreed with the remarks of the Jury, lie must pass a severe sentence for .such a very bad offence. These assaults on women and children \vfire becoming far too common, and they must be put an end to. The prisoner had only made his case worse during the trial by endeavouring to blacken the characters of the witnesses. His Hojior had no doubt that had it not been for the policeman accidentally' coming up at the time the prisoner would have effected his purpose upon the woman. The sentence of tha Court would be thai Anbury be imprisoned and kept to hard labour fof a term of ten years, and to receive two floggings of twenty-five lashes each.

Aubury on heaving his sentence became very excited, and viciously: shook his fist at the Judge, exclaiming with much bad language that ''you'll never see me flogged." He shouted abu.se at the Judge, and was making, loud threats and swearing when he was seized and hurried below to the cells by the warders,, with whom he struggled savagely.