THE AGE OF CONSENT.

Feilding Star, 30 May 1907, Page 2

THE AGE OF CONSENT.

tPBB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, May 29. The hearing of the charges against Arthur Harris of criminally assaulting and* abducting a girl under 16 was continued this morning. Among the witnesses called by the prosecution was a married woman, living at Devonport. She said that the accused got some food from her' one morning in January, and remarked that he had run away with a girl. Witness asked who the girl was and what was her age, the prisoner replying "She is fifteen and a half; she will be sixteen in June." Mr London opened the case for the defence by briefly addressing the jury. The accused was then called. He was, he said, 20 years of age. A fortnight after he left the employ of prosecutrix's father, he wrote informing her that he did not wish to hare anything more to do with her. She subsequently sent a letter stating she would meet him at a hotel in Earamankahape road, and she did so. They went to the Domain, and witness asked her to go home, but she refused. Witness therefore stayed with her. Continuing his evidence, accused said the girl told him she would follow him everywhere. They went to North Shore, because she said she could stay with some one there, but upon ! •arriving at Devonport, the prosecutrix aeclared she knew nobody. As he had no money, the ferry fares were paid by the girl. He denied having told the Devonport witness that lie mew the girl's age to be fifteen and a half. His impression, ■ gained in a conversation with the prosecutrix, wad that, she was over sixteen. .'!'"' , Cross-examined by Mr Tole, the acused said he was so tormented by the proseeutrix that at last he made up to her, though he was very- unwilling. "