Architect For Sentence

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29894, 7 August 1962, Page 16

Architect For Sentence

(N Z Press Association) PALM. NORTH. Aug 6. William Thorrold Jaggard. married, aged 48. an architect, of Palmerston North, was today committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on 11 charges of indecent assault on males and one of attempted assault. Mr D. G. Sinclair, S.M, said that exhibits in the form of literature and photographs confirmed that the case was a bad one of its kind, for which the maximum penalty was seven years’ imprisonment. The offences to which accused pleaded guilty ranged over a period from January 13. 1956. to August 2 this year. Detective Senior Sergeant F A. Gordon said Jaggard was a leading architect in Palmerston North. The males involved were between 17 and 29 years of age. Most of the offences took place in a room which was fitted up as a bar.

Jaggard admitted the offences and saved the youths the experience of telling their versions to the court, said Mr Gordon. A search of the rooms disclosed photographs, as well as literature, of a highly indecent nature. Jaggard admitted being the author of a booklet, "Confessions of a Homosexual.” which was his own biography. Ninety-three persons were named in a numbered list of local youths and men found in Jaggard’s possession. Each entry had a number, a code mark and date representing the lengths to which the persons referred to had gone in acts of indecency. Jaggard could be charged with more offences againsother males, but the present charges were all that were intended, said Mr Gordon. “This man has taken advantage of his position in the community in furthering his acts of indecency,” said Mr

Gordon. "It will come as a matter of concern to the authorities to know ihat, in some instances, youths who had been referred to him on such matters as vocations guidance have been subjected to his indecent advances. "These indecent practices have been going on for 32 years, on the accused’s admission. I draw attention to the book written by the accused. A perusal of this book —a most damning document —discloses a system of deliberate seduction of youths and men over manv years—seduction carefully considered and planned "The accused seems to have been concerned to perfect a method of seduction which was to apply to all his ‘pupils’. One can onlv condemn such thought and actions as evil in the extreme.” Mr H. Y. Gilliand appeared for Jaggard. who was remanded in custody.