A SERIOUS CHARGE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 7

A SERIOUS CHARGE

YOUTH BEFORE THE COURT. YOUNG GIKL SLEEPING OUT. Siiid to b<. , eight eu years of age, a young man, whose name was suppressed, was indicted before Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., at Wellington, on a serious c-lianre in connection, with a young girl. Evidence was given that doubt had arisen as to the fjirl's age, and together she and the accused visited the office of the Registrar, where they had discovered the girl to be a month short of fifteen. After this, it was alleged, the offence had occurred. The story told 'by the girl was an unusual one. Slip had 'been forbidden to si-e the lad by her father, with whom she lived, and as she had l>een in trouble through contriving to meet the accused, ha<l run away from home on February 14th. She had been sleeping out on the hills near Xcwtown, and accused had been with her. The court was cleared during the hearing, and at the conclusion of the evidence the accused lad was committed io lie Mip-i'iiu? I'ourt-l'or sentence, bail being fixed at £.50. Mr. T. Kemp, chief-detective, prosecuted, and Mr. TV. E. Leicester represented the interests of the boy. i