BRUTAL ASSAULT ON CHILD

Evening Star, Issue 20582, 6 September 1930, Page 14

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON CHILD

"NOT A MAN AT ALL"' SCATHING REBUKE FROM BENCH (Pi* Uhitbd Prkss Association.] GISBORNE, September 6. ; Comment of a most scathing nature •was passed by Mr-Harper j S.M., in the Police Court this morning at tho conclusion of a case in winch Frederick Cade pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated assault on his sou, aged thirteen. / - “I am satisfied/’, said the magistrate, “that the accused committed a, cowardly and aggravated assault pa this frail boy. There is no excusd whatever for his behaviour, and I'aiit satisfied that tho offence the'boy wag supposed to have .committed was only, trivial. , It is evident that the boy* when in tho witness box, was in great fear and that, ho told a story to protect himself from tho fury of bis father.! Accused is not a man at all. Ho is ad* thing but an unmitigated waster, who refuses work and lives on charitable, aid and his wife’s earnings. I should like to sentence him to a sharp term of imprisonment, where he would have to take bis coat off and do some work. The only thing that saves him from that is that his wife is in hospital and the children would have no one to take care of them.” Accused was admitted to probation for six months, and an order was made, for tho children to he placed under the supervision of the child welfare 'officer lor their own protection.