Offences Against Girl Escapees From Homes

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6633, 21 August 1931, Page 7

Offences Against Girl Escapees From Homes

COURT OF APPEAL TO INTERPRET LAW. Pc;r Press Association, CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The verdict in cases against several men in the Supreme Court this session concerning alleged offences against girl escapees from Burwood Home will have to be withheld until the terms of tho section of the Child Welfare Act. under which they are charged have been interpreted by the Court of Appeal. Alan Hirst was charged with having attempted to commit an offence against a female inmate of an institution under the Child Welfare Act of 1925, who was at the time of the oifenco resident in a State institution, tho girls' home at Bunvood. The jury was directed to reply to two questions: (1) Did accused attempt the offonce alleged; (2) did accused .know that the girls were escapees from [a home. The jury replied that he did attempt Jtho offence but without knowledge of the fact that the girls were escaepes. Hirst was remanded until the November sessions and in the meantime the Court of Appeal will be asked to determine tho following questions:— (1) Whether knowledge is an essential ingredient of the offence. (2) Whether the girls were resident in the institution within the meaning of tike Act.