ASSAULTED GIRLS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18441, 23 July 1925, Page 15

ASSAULTED GIRLS.

CHARGE AGAINST ARTIST. (rKESS ASSOCIATION TSLEORAU.J AUCKLAND, July 22. Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., gave judgment in the case against Charles Horace Bettany, an artist, charged with pssault on girls. He said accused adTertised office employment for young and when applicants appeared be suggested they would be al>le to earn additional money by posing for him as artist's models. Bettany proposed to two girls that they should strip behind a curtain. Both girls declined. They were there separately. Bettany then measured one girl outside her clothing in different places around her leg, and on her bare skin. Accused's explanation was that he wished to repair a broken statue. This was humbug. He was a good artist, and knew well the normal measurements of the average woman and of world-famous stxtues. Tho action of accused was a mere pretence to induce girls to submit to his handling. The Magistrate was convinced that Bettany's advertisements were intended to inveigle girls into his office for that purpose, not to get them employment. The defence was one of consent, hut that did not hold where it was obtained by false or fraudulent misrenresentation. Bettany could have been charged with a graver offence, but on. the facts he would be committed for assault on both charges. The Chief-Detective asked for a re-

mand till to-morrow before sentence, as he wanted to make enquiries about Bettany. The Magistrate agreed. He refused an application for the suppression of accused's name.