STRANGE PROCEEDINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3515, 13 October 1882, Page 4

STRANGE PROCEEDINGS.

(Wellington Post, October 7.)

Some" very eccentric proceedings took pluce at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. A youth and a young girl, each about 17 yearß of age, were caught conducting themselves improperly in tho Botanical Wardens at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. Tbeir behaviour was doubtless very reprohonsible, and it is plainly desirable that such misconduct in a place of public resort and recreation should be prevented if possible, and when detected punished. Rut there should be moderation in all things, aad this assuredly was riot displayed in the case of that erring juvenile pair. They were promptly pounced upon by a constable— which was quite right—and then, the youth being handcuffed —which was quite wrong— they were both rnarohed in the most public pianner through the streets straight to tho

Magistrate's Court, and forthwith brought before the Bench charged with indecency. No opportunity was afforded them of communicating with their friends or employing counsel. Crushed no doubt with the overwhelming shame of such an exposure, they made no defence, but simply admitted their offence. One would havo supposed that the Bench would have remanded the case before pronouncing sentence, in order to ascertain whether the two shame-stricken culprits were old offenders, to whom a severe sentence would be an appropriate chastisement and no special degradation, or whether they were not, as we understand to be the case, two juvenile simpletons who had committed a first offence through thoughtless impulse, in itself highly censurable, but not calling for a severe sentence. Very different was the course adopted by Mr. Hardcastle, R.M., and the Mayor, who presided on that occasion. These Draconian magistrates actually sentenced each of the offenders to a month's imprisonment ivilh liard labour. A most monstrous and absurdly disproportionate sentence ! Even as regards the ymith, it was ridiculously excessive, calculated to turn him into a hardened offender and a regular member of the ciurninai class, instead of leading him to amend his loose ways. But, in the tasc of the girl, the sentence is a scandulous and outrageous impropriety. The idea of a young girl of 17 being sent under such circumstances to prison to herd for a month with all sorts of criminals, to come out marked for life as a gaol-bird, seems »imply shocking. "What can have posessed Messrs Hardcastle and Fisher to pass such a sentence, and in such indecorous haste, we are at a los 3 to understand ; but it is quite certain their action has excited the deepest indignation. We entertain strong doubts whether either the conviction or the sentence is legal, but even if so, it is extravagant and cruel, while the manner in which the case was ' rushed' through the Court, without any communication with the relatives of the culprits, or the opportunity being afforded them of obtaining legal advice and assistance, reflects the utmost discredit on everyone concerned. Representations having been made to the Ministry as to the the harshness and severity of the sentence passed, we learn by telegram that it is understood the Government have decided not to interfere in the matter.