A TERRIBLE CRIME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 109, 8 May 1903, Page 3

A TERRIBLE CRIME.

TEN YEARS' AND TWO j FLOGGINGS. ;

At the Supreme Court yesterday af; ternoon a half-caste named Timothy; Pacard Christian was charged with carnally knowing a girl under the age of ten years, and also with indecent assault on the same girlj the second count referring to the same alleged offence. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was not represented by counsel. The evidence, which was of a shocking character, alleged that the offence had been committed on April 16th in the Sy-monds-street Cemetery. The little girl was seven years old. Dr. Walker and witnesses who saw accused with the little girl on the afternoon in question gave evidence. One witness stated that she saw accused with the little girl in Karangahape-road about three o'clock. '

Accused gave evidence denying the charge, and stated that at the time the offence was alleged to have been committed he was in a billiard room in town. He said he went to town iiCte tram at half-past two, and did not Teturn until five o'clock. The offence was alleged to have been committed between three and four o'clock. Accused called a man named Curson, vvho stated, that on Thursday week (April 23rd) he remembered accused going into the billiard room about a quarter-past or halfprist three, and playing three, games of 50 up with witness.,.

After retiring for ten minutes the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and on hearing: this prisoner began to sob. Asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed, he said: "I can only say I am an innocent man. Oh, my pbor wife, my poor wife." ,

His Honor, in passing sentence, said he thought no one who had heard the evidence in*this case could have the slightest doubt that the verdict of jhe jury was a perfectly just one. The evidence, especially that of Dr. Walker and the child, showed that a terrible outrage had been committed. The evidence connecting the prisoner with the crime was quite conclusive. There was only one kind of punishment fit for brutes like, the prisoner. s A being who could commit such, a shocking and brutal outrage did not deserve called a man. He would pass a sentence which he hoped would be a warning to others not to commit, such terrible crimes. Whether it would do the prisoner any good he could not say. The sentence would be one ,of 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour, and prisoner would be ordered to receive two floggings with the cat, each of 25 strokes.

Prisoner, While His \ Honor was speaking, again protested his innocence; and on hearing .the sentence" shrieked' with terror. He continued his cries and struggled as he was taken from the dock.> '-

Recommended by the medical profession—WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS;