ASSAULT ON GIRL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 22

ASSAULT ON GIRL

Judge’s ‘Court In Street’ (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) KASSON (Minnesota), November 20. A county juvenile court judge wao sentenced to 10 days in gaol or a 50-dollar fine yesterday for slapping an 11-year-old girl who exploded firecrackers in the street. The girl, Jenny Kabage, exploded one of the crackers—the type which goes off when jumped on—in the courtroom at the defence’s request. Sentence was imposed on Judge L. A. Paulsrude, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault brought by the girl’s father. Municipal Judge Bruce Stone admonished his fellow jurist for a “horrible lack of dignity for a human being.” Mr Paulsrude, has 10 days to appeal. He told bystanders at the time of the incident on October 25 that he was punishing Jenny for breaking the law and was holding court in the street. Counsel argued that the defendant was not only authorised but obligated to stop Jenny from breaking the law. Judge Stone ruled there is no legal authority for a stranger to walk up to a little girl, tell her to take off her glasses and slap her. Jenny was struck once in the face and once on the back. She told Judge Stone it had hurt.