ANOTHER CASE.

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

ANOTHER CASE.

ASSAULT OX A GHJ.LD,

SENTENCE OF TEN tfv s flg» HARD

LABOUR

To-day another case of this class came before the Court. A grey-haired old man named Hugh Madden, stated to be between 50 and GO years of age, pleaded guilty to a. charge of that oil March 0 : at Kimihia, Huntly. he dirt carnally know a girl named Hilda' Grnndy, under ten years of age; and did also indecently assault the girl.

Mr J. O'Meagher appeared for the accused in mitigation of sentence. Ha said he did not desire to in any way] palliate the offence of having- connection with this little child, but hewished to call attention to one eireuinstance of this horrible case. The prisoner had communicated venereal disease to the child, but it appeared that at the time he committed the offence he had no knowledge that he was suffering- from the complaint. This fact might take away a little from the horrid nature of the case. The man had borne an excellent character hitherto, and Mr Grundy had placed every confidence in him. Counsel asked that His Honor deal as mercifully with the accused as he could under the circumstances.

His Honor in passing- sentence saict that this was one of the most horrible cases he had ever had before him. The prisoner had had intercourse with a child only five years, of age. What possible temptation there could be to a man with the feelings of a man to attempt anything- of the kind with a little child was beyond His Honor's understanding. There had lately been a deluge, an epidemic, of cases of this sort —assaults on women and children —and this was a particularly horrible one, the victim being a mere baby. In this case if it could have been shown that prisoner was aware that he was suffering from a disease at the time he committed the offence it would have made the case worse; the statements that he did not know were some small mitigation. These crimes were becoming so serious that it became the duty of judges to impose heavy sentences. A presentation to the effect that the sentences hitherto passed In these eases were not severe enough, had been made to him yesterday by the Grand Jury. If it had not been for the prisoner's age he would have inflicted flogging in addition to the punishment he was about to impose. He would .spare the prisoner Hogging solely on account of his age., but he must pass a heavy sentence for the offence, committed. The prisoner was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with hard labour.