SCHOOL GIRL AND YOUTHS

Northern Advocate, 25 October 1935, Page 8

SCHOOL GIRL AND YOUTHS

CASE FROM PANfIIURE

THREE YOUNG MEN ON TRIAL.

I' Special to “Northern Advocate . AUCKLAND, This Day.

The story of a school girl’s association with three half-caste Maoris was told in the Supreme Court this morning, when Ivan Talbot, aged 18, Edward Hawke, aged 18, and Raymond Talbot, aged 20, pleaded: not guilty to unlawfully carnally knowing . a girl under the age of 16. The hearing was before Mr Justice Callan, Mr Meredith appearing for the Crown, and Mr Sullivan for the three accused. •

Mr Meredith said that there would; be no dispute about the facts. The girl, who was now 13 years of age, and lived at Panmure had made the acquaintance of the three accused, who were Maori youths employed by Chinese market gardeners. The girl was a willing party to the offences, and, in respect to one charge, had stayed in the waiting room of the Panmure railway station the whole of one night with Raymond Talbot. The girl was a quarter-caste Maori, ancLhad been allowed to go to dances and socials held in the district. When interviewed by the police, all three accused had frankly admitted misconduct with the girl. His Honour said he took it tnat the whole case was whether the accused had reasonable ground for believing the girl was 16 years or over at the time the offences were alleged to have been committed. After she had given her evidence in chief, the girl, in answer to Mr Sullivan, said that when she went to dances she did not wear the school regulation gymnasium dress, but a much longer dress, also a long coat. Mr Sullivan said that the Crown admitted that the three accused were all under the age of 21 years, which was the first point in the defence. The second was that they had reasonable grounds for believing that the girl was 16 years or over, at the time of the offence. The reason that the accused had stated to the police that they knew the girl was under 16 was because they had found that out after the police inquiries were instituted. The three accused gave evidence, and, in cross-examination, Raymond Talbot admitted that .he had given the girl a birthday present in June last. He knew it was her 13th birthday. The other accused said they did not know her age until after the police inquiries began.