MARRIED MAN GAOLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1927, Page 9

MARRIED MAN GAOLED.

"GIRLS MUST BE PROTECTED." HARD LABOUR IMPOSIID. J. T-I' -craj'b. —Own Corresponded i HAMILTON", this day. iliiiiy Morri.-, ex-policeman and head gardener at the Tokanui Mental Hospital, ramc' up for sentence before Mr. Justice Herdman to-day, on a charge of attempted rape on the 17-year-old daughter of the assistant-engineer at the hospital. His Honor told the prisoner that the i eas-e had given him a lot of trouble. The ' plain fact was that, knowing a young girl was alone in a house, he attempted to rape her, and it was only the providential appearance of a neighbour on the scene that frustrated him in his purpose. It was quite plain from the evidence that the girl had givea him do encouragement. His Honor said he could find no possible excuse for prisoner's conduct. His animal passions apparently had suddenly ?r.t the better of him. This was the very thing that respectable girls must be protected against. According to the prolotion officer's report this was not the first time prisoner had tried to impose his will on a girl, but as there was no evidence of this before him he would pay it no heed.

His Honor added that he had taken into consideration the jury's recommendation to mercy, and also the fact that prisoner had never previously been convicted. He sentenced him to twelve months , hard labour, to be followed by two years' reformative detention.