PROTECTING GIRLS

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 2

PROTECTING GIRLS

SEIiSU.UiST mi TO GAOL [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 10. Charged with assault on a young girl whom he had employed as a typistc, Archibald George Gledhill, a middleaged'man, appeared before Mr E. P.age, S.M., to-day. Ho was represented by Mr W. E. Leicester. In her evidence the girl .said she was a typistc, 16 years of age. . She had answered an advertisement, in a newspaper and was standing talking to a friend in Larnbton quay ontsido Gledhill’s oflicc. wondering whether or not to go in, when a man came down the stairs and asked her if she were seeking a position. She said she was, and asked him if he were the man she was to see. Ho replied that he was, and they went upstairs. Gledhill asked to see her references, and later engaged her. She started later on in the morning! Next day her employer told her about a girl ho had previously emplovcd and on whom he said he had spent £BO. He added ho was engaged to her and was going to marry her later on. Witness told him she did not want to hear more about the girl. Gledhill then came across to. her and put his arm around her waist. She pushed him away, got her hat and coat, and left. Detective M'Lennan said that Gledhill, when questioned by him, had said he never kissed his typistes or did anything else to them unless they asked him.

Defendant told the court he had been divorced for twenty years on his own petition. He was over fifty yean?, of age, and had never been convicted of any criminal offence. It happened complainant’s name was May, which was also the name of the girl to whom he was engaged. That was how he came to toll Tier about his fondness for her. Hfi emphatically denied he had put his arm around the girl’s waist, and he was surprised when she did not arrive at the office next morning. To Mr Leicester: Detective McLennan had told him that if he admitted the incident was a joke ho would not be prosecuted. , ' Chief-detective Ward said Gledhill was 57 years of age and was, on account of his abnormal sexual propensities a menace to young girku Mr Pago said he was inclined to agree with the chief detective's views after hearing the evidence. Aounc: girls had to be protected. Gledhill would bo sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. Uo refused to increase the sentence to enable an appeal to bo made.