CHRISTCHURCHIANA.

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 8

A DEVILISH RAVISHER.

Ex-Burnham Boy Rapes His Fellow

Servant.

A crime of a most oMrageous character was perpetrated on a farm some distance out of Ashburton •on Thursday, July 12, when a savage attack was made upon the chastity of a young woman aged/ IS years. The occurrence took "place at Alfred Forest, and was of a most callous, coldblooded character. On the previous Monday the scoundrel who committed ithe crime, Henry Cunningham, was taken on to work at the same place us the girl who was subsequently to be, his victim. He is only just out of his x teens, and is said to toe an old Eurnham boy— the bright youth who once stabbed Schoolmaster Archey. Cunningham seems to have taken a fancy to the girl, and on Thursday afternoon he gratified his lustfuj/ desires by throwing her down and raping her. -.There was nobody .about at the time, and the victim's struggles were quite unavailing against the brute strength of her ravisher. She subsequently made for /the house of her mother, arriving crying and m a very distressed condition. On being asked what had happened the girl gave an account of the shocking occiiicrenJpe, and' : stating Cunningham's nam-e^as being the author of the outrage/ The mother at once went to. the house of the employer, taking her daughter v with her, and' there made complaint. . The scoundrel Cunningham, on being asked by his boss why he did such a things answer- 1 ed quite coolly that i% was all righthe would admit it. The fellow did not seem to be m any way seized of tife enormity of his dastardly offence; m fap||he appears to possess no moral stamina at 'all; being, merely a v brute content to satisfy liis unlawful- / cravings whenever a woman is unfortunate enough to cross . hjs path, tfuite regardless of consequences. Nowoman, girl or. child! is safe while there are. inhuman monsters like car- {'■ na.l Cunningham polluting -the earth' with their pestiferous presence. When it was proposed to take him into Ashburton and hand him ovet to the authorities, Cunningham was quite callous and affected an air of. don't-care-a-damnedness m connection • with the whole abominable business. The employer got the irap ready and the whole lot went into Ashburtbn-^ boss, mother, daughter/ an* the lewd, : lascivious prisoner. It was rather ait* uncommon sight, accused /and accuser travelling m the same vehicle. However, on arriving at their : destination, Constable O'Grady was met with, the-, vehicle ■ was stopped 'and .the mother called out "I give I»is mtan ; in' charge for raping my daughter." *. The constable at onpe took charge -of Cunn- .;■■■■ ingham who said : "I've got* nothing to say ; I won't deny, anything ; I. . admit everything." '; ' • f So he 'was lumbered along to the . p police station and charged wnith 'his heinous .'crime. From'tbe fellow's de- •; meaner ./right throughout one would > almost feel inclined : to rfchink <that.vhe< ; actually wanted to get inskle gaol ; v he made no attemp/li^at excuse, didn't - attempt to deny,, .■aaty-thing; and^ (treated the matter rvHfth absolute - contempt. Naxt momang he was brought' Wray, 5.M... when : evidenpe was taken. The victim of. the rapef described her inhnman treatment at the hands of the' prisoner ; %r -motherfollowed her m the-box, and- a.. doctor,, who had made an, examrination of the- -:• also testified. Cunningham bad no 'qiuestions to ask any of the- witnesses, and after tv-idence had been taken, and- the usual question' put to him, he 'said he would pliead guilty. He wa?. accordingly) remaraded to the Supreme Court .at Chrisjbchurcb. for sentface.