MEASURED GIRLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 July 1925, Page 9

MEASURED GIRLS.

ARTIST CONVICTED OF ASSAULT. SENTENCE DEFER R ED. CBY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND', July 22. Mr. Poynton, S.M., gave judgment to-day in' the case against Charles Bethany, an artist, who: was charged with assault on girls. He said the accused advertised for office employment for young girls, and when the applicants appeared, suggested that the girls would be able to earn additional money by posing for .him as artist is model, Bettany proposed to two girls that they should strip behind a curtain, and both girls declined. They were there separately. Bettany then measured on© girl outside her clothing in different places around her leg, in different places and on the bare skin. The accused’s explanation to each girl was that, lie wished to repair a broken statue. This was humbug, said His Worship. He was a good artist, and knew well the normal measurement of an average woman and of world famous- statues. The action of the accused was a mere pretence to induce the girls to submit to his handling. The Magistrate was convinced that Bett-any’s advertisements were intended to inveigle girls into his office for that purpose, and not to get them employment. The defence was one of consent, but that did not hold where the consent was obtained by false or fraudulent misrepresentation. Bettany could have been charged with a graver offence, hut on the facts he would be convicted for assault on both charges.

The chief detective asked for a remand before sentence was passed till to-morrow, as lie wanted to make inquiries about Bettany. The Magistrate agreed. He refused an application for the suppression of the accused’s name.