ASSAULT ON GIRLS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1939, Page 6

ASSAULT ON GIRLS

B.C. TEACHER GAOLED. 'Per Press Association.—Copyright). AUCKLAND. April 26. 3wo charges of assaulting former •pupils# in his Bible Clas,s were heard in the Police Court to-day before Mr Orr Walker, S.M., against Harry Arthur Bright, aged 27 years, a clerk in the Government service.

Bright pleaded guilty to assaulting a girl on .March 27, ■ and another g : r) on April 18.

The police said that Bright was a married man with one child. One of the girls concerned in the case, who is now 17 years of age. said that when she was 15 years old she was invited to the accusers home. Bright telling her that lie wanted her to sign Mission papers. When she arrived there, she found that Bright’s wife was not at home. Witness said that intercourse then took place. It also took place on four or five occasions until a year ago, when she had managed to evade him. " •

The second girl in. the case was 14 years old.

Counsel for .Bright said that a foolish attachment had grown up between him and the elder girl of 17. . It was abundantly clear that Bright must lose grading, a' report having already gone p o fhe /Public Service Commissioner. His wife had bravely forgiven him. The Magistrate said that, in one oase, Bright had been carrying on with the girl for some time. Tn the other case, he had obviously attempted to seduce the girl. Taking the most lenient view, a term of imprisonment must be imposed.

On the first charge, Bright, was sentenced to a term of three weeks. On the second charge, lie was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months.