SEXUAL CASES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1913, Page 8

SEXUAL CASES

JUDGE ORDERS THE LASH. (BT TELEGRAPH — MESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, This Day. In sentencing Thomas. Hammond, a young man convicted of indecent aeeaulfc on a little girl, Mr. Justice Edwards said tho Grand Jury had recommended him to make representations which would result in an alteration of the law to provide for the' use of the lash in such cases. He already -had power to order a flogging, and intended in all these cases to inflict floggings. The rftimber of strokes in the present case was not an indication of tho number likely to be ordered in future, which would be materially increased. The punishment would bo made severe instead of only a severe warning. Prisoner was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with ten strokes of -the lash. Robert Connor and Frank Rhodes, old men, • found guilty of assaulting little girls, were sentenced to three years'imprisonment each, with five strokes of the lash. The Judge said the gaol surgeon would be in attendance, and would stop tho flogging if it was found to be beyond the endurance of the prisoners. Warnings were being given to this class of prisoner over and over again, and it was clear that the lash was the only practical punishment to suppress sexual offences of this 'kind. William Charles Spraggs, a young man, for a similar offence, received three years' imprisonment and ten lashes. In the case of Thomas Lock, aged 52 years, found guilty of carnal knowledge of a girl under sixteen years, the Judge said that, owing to a flaw in the Crimes Act, he was unable to order tho lash, although in a case of indecent assault— -really a minor charge-— he had the power to do so. Accused was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. His Honour said he would mako representations with the object of having tho law amended.