CASE FROM DARGAVILLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 17

CASE FROM DARGAVILLE.

RECOMMENDATION TO MERCY. •\ motor from Pargavihc. Norman McMillan (Mr. Pudd), stood trial lie fore Mr. Justice Herdman yesterday on two chaises of indecent assault on a girl 11 years of ago. The offences were alleged to have been committer] mi June 15 anil on July 12 at D.irgaville. Mr. Meredith. frown prosecutor, conducted the prosecution. The police 'sergeant who arrested t lie accused stated that accused said. I wdl plead guilty ; to set. the whole_ tlnnc? ovei. I know nothing about it. tic hnd been suffering from the effects of inPiiorizrv anrl /<lrank .'i hottlo of liranny. "This is the result, of lif|Uor. lit" said when charged. Accused wont into the witness-box fin.J denied vital parts of the evidence auainst him. In answer to Mr. Meredith, he said lie understood drunkenness was an essential part of the cure for influeii7.il. After ;i retirement of lour hours the jury returned to ask a question as to tiir date oT the statement taken by the police from the girl. Alter a further retirement of more fhan half an hour the jury brought in it verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy on account of the prisoner's previous s*oo<l character and the care arid attention he had accorded his family. : His Honor snifl the recommendation j would have his most serious consideration. Sentence will be pronounced on Wednesday.