DEPRAVED GIRLS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 November 1929, Page 5

DEPRAVED GIRLS

APPALLING BEHAVIOUR SAYS CHIEF JUSTICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “Such girls as these, if left at large, are ami will be not only a danger to themselves but a menace to the youth of the community and they are simply inviting the commission of a crime of the description of which prisoner has committed ” said the Chief Justice, Hon. M. -Myers, when James Webster Bittle (28) appeared for sentence on two charges of indecent assault on a female child and two charges of obscene exposure. The offences were committed at Petone. After remarking on the pa infulness of the case to Bittle himself who hitherto had borne an excellent Character, His Honour went on; The importance of the matter from the public viewpoint however, is that the papers before me disclose depths of depravity on the part of young girls of eleven and twelve years of age, which are as appalling as they are amazing. One might hope that such cases are as uncommon as they are appalling, but unfortunately those of us who have to do witli the criminal, kudu the contrary. ’’ He was not speaking of the last few months during which ho had boon in his present position but from an experience of association with criminal law in the past few years. This was the fourth case within a space of less than a month in which there had been evidence before the court, of depravity of a more serious kind on the part of young girls and he would not have made special mention now but for the ages of the two girls. The point he warned to come to was (hat such girls as those, if, left at large, were and would be not only a danger to themselves but a entice to youths. 11 is regret was that there was no power in that court on the disclosure of such cases to commit girls to an institution for a term of years for correction and discipline. lie made a suggestion that the, court should bo invested witli such power and commended the suggestion to the Counsel of the proper authorities.

Bit lie got twelve months reformative treatment.