JUDGE DEFIED

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 105, 30 October 1935, Page 20

JUDGE DEFIED

SISTERS IN COURT

Two sisters, aged eighteen and fifteen, who were to be the chief witnesses for the prosecution against their father at the Old Bailey recently, refused to go into the witness-box and give evidence, says the "Daily Telegraph." The man in the dock was John Stevens, 41, a Surrey farm labourer, who was charged with offences against his two daughters. Mr. Christmas Humphreys, prosecuting, after outlining the case, called the elder daughter. The girl walked into court, and just below the witnessbox exclaimed in a loud voice: "I am not going into the witness-box. I do not wish to give evidence against my father." She was again asked to go into the box and then said: "No, I make no charge against my father. I was in hospital and the police sergeant came to me. I did not go to him. If I wanted to make a charge I should have gone to the police." The girl was told to sit down in court and the second daughter was called. On being invited to go into the witness-box, she also said: "I am not going into the box." Mr. Justice Porter held a consultation with the Clerk of the Court, and then remarked: "Witnesses are bound over to attend, and I shall consider whether I send these two girls to prison for refusing to give evidence." The two sisters were told to remain in court. His Lordship ordered the jury to be discharged and to return later in the afternoon. The two girls were again brought into court in the afternoon, and Mr. Justice Porter said: "Are you prepared to go into the witnass-box or. riot?" "No, sir," they both replied. The Judge: Very well. (To Mr. Humphreys): Are you offering any evidence against the man? Mr. Humphreys: In the circumstances, no, my Lord. His Lordship directed, the jury to return • a verdict of not guilty, and Stevens was discharged. Addressing the two daughters, the Judge said: "I have you two girls in custody, and you are'guilty of contempt of Court. Ido not propose that this Court should be treated with contempt. I can send both of you to prison. The elder girl will be fined £5 and kept in prison until she has paid it. "As to the younger" girl, "she being under seventeen, I propose dealing with her by recommending that the police take her to a remand home to enable it to be considered whether she cannot be dealt with at a petty sessional court as being subject to immoral influences."