A DANGEROUS SIDE-LINE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 July 1925, Page 3

A DANGEROUS SIDE-LINE.

SKETCHES FROM THE NUDE. MODELS WANTED. (BV TELEGBAPH- —PBESB ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, July, 10. In the Police Court this afternoon a married man, 41 years of age, carrying on business in the city as an agent, was charged with unlawfully assaulting two girls. The case was conducted by Detective Ward and accused was represented by Mr. Matthews.

A girl of 18 years testified that last week she replied to an advertisement and in answer to her letter received a card asking her to call at No, 12, National Chambers, Swanson Street, either between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., or between 6 p.m. and 7 ji.ni. She went at 1 p.m. and had to ‘call later at 2 p.m. After talking about office work the man in the office, who was accused, referred to some pictures on the wall and said he would ask her to. do some other work. She thought lie .said he wanted her to hold the pictures, but realised later that he meant her. to pose for them. He took her behind a partition and asked her to undress while lie measured her. In regard to the measurements, he explained he wanted them so that he would be able to use them for repairing a broken statue lie showed her. She declined to undress, hut he took measurements over her clothes and then measured her legs up to the thigh. & Tn reply to Air. Matthews,\the girl said she did not make a, isrene as she wished to get away quickly. A girl of 17 years told practically the same story, her visit being paid between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. by appointment as had been made hv the previous witness. Detective AYard stated that when arrested by him the accused said he was in buisinesis ws an 'agent under the style of the Commercial Stationery Company. but he also did drawing and modelling work. Ho said he had got about 50 apoli eat ions to his advertisement, but had not made a appointment. He had told some of the girls they could: make Gs or 4s a week extra bv posing for him one night a. week. He required models to be nude or justdraped. He mostly did modelling, but lie .sketched from the mule also, in order to keep his hand in. AD*. Matthews produced a number of exhibits of the accused’s work as an artist of exceptional merit. The explanation that he did not advertise for a. model was that the man was in poor circumstances and could not pay for a regular model. He had to do other work and to get a model to posej occasionally when he could afford to pay for posing. The man’s point of view was - that of an (artist, not of a sensualist. Decision was reserved and the name of defendant was supressed by order of the Court.