RUPERT KELLOW.

NZ Truth, Issue 88, 23 February 1907, Page 5

RUPERT KELLOW.

PRAGTISED BOY-DEBAUCHER. Lectured, Advised, Censured and Sentenced..

A .problem, not yet. 16 years, of age, m the shape of Rupert kellow, was what Mr Justice Cooper .attempted to solve at the Criminal Court oh Wednesday last. This lad had been convicted on Tuesday of having committed an Unnatural offencfe oh a boy at Karori. Theie wete half, a dozen similar*, charges against Kellow, on ono of which he Was acquitted, while the Crown Prosecutor, after the lad's conviction, on Tuesday, intimated that the other charges would not be proceeded with. This dreadful case disclosed a truly shocking state of moral depravity. It Was . made apparent that for a lone period prior to December last, KelloW had been tampering With a number of small boys "from the Karori school: Kellow* js- the -'son of respectable parents, but the fact was very patent that the youth had been indulging m vicious practises, with the result that, as the Judge Said, he had LOST ALL MORAL RESTftAIN-i?. After Ms conviction last..Tie»&2y r , Mr Justin Qj^r.&tr ; feih'anded the •wfotoed youth "for sentence... When the prisoner came utf for sentence on Wednesday morning' his Honor announced MS intention of granting probation under conditions Which were subsequently stititilfßj&i. . The case had Caused ms Homor^ great deal Of anXiety,. and he hatf baft the benefit of a consultation .gwith the Chief Justice. Both had- dxperiehced. great difficulty ih arriving at a conclusion as to hoW to deal With the prisoner j who was 15 last Oeto- ' ber. .To send him to .prison, if only for a short term, might prevent him froriai communicating with other boys, brit it might result m the absolute destruction oi his future, arid his wel-t fare had to be considered. •He could be sent to a reformatory,- and though he would hot suggest that Strict supervision and discipline Was not maintained m reformatories or Industrial schools, he doubted whether that course would meet ;the case. It might result m injury to other lads ther^, or continued injury to Kellbw's own morals. He believed the ptisoner had been led into' the commission of the offence by . IN/DULaiNG IN PRACTISES which* 4/hOugh not comnion with Jads^ were certainly not unknown^ practises pursued m igriorarice and continued'in effect, which led to degradaiibh,. insanity and death m many cases. The lad's moral fibre became Weakened, he} lost self-restraint, arid his moral nature underwent . a complete revulsion. Kellow admitted iridulging iri these practices m secret. The result was- to destroy all moral power and to creatp a perverted sexual, and sensual appetite, which led m some cases, unless the practises 'We're checked, to a lad's degradation, insanity and death. His Honor said ho spoke plainly oh the subject, it .. was a delicate subject to mention, : but there' "Was^ necessity sometimes to speak plainly ih the public interest and' m the interests of boyS and youths, and to dree upon- parents the duty cast upon them of making their lads acquainted with natural; laws, a breach of which must des'trby, m many instances, the future of "their sons. He proposed to adrinit Kellow . to probation under very special, conditions. The maisimurii, Sentence allowed by the law for this cldss of offence Was'life. It was a serious offence. There were , 'degrees., no doubt. There were cases m Wfiiich tlie offerice ( was ;' -)0 .; \ -'fil .'._■' COMMITTED BY VICIOUSvJViEN, and m such a case it was necessary,' m ;the public interest, that such men shbuld be prevented fr<Jm contaminating and corrupting other persons,-, and it might be quite a proper thing to pass an extremely Severe sentence'on such men, a6, -indeed, he had itt the past. J After expressing the opinion that Kellow knew of the wrong he was committing, his Honor, explained that because of the prisoner's extreme youth he Would admit him to probation and, if possible, thereby save the lad. It .would be a great advantage gained m the struggle .to turn , Kellow from vicious habits into the paths of virtue and proper living. The conditions, under which probation would be- giranted were that he would be admitted to probation, for six years, ', that he should report himself to the Probation Officer once a weejc between the hours of 0 a.m. and -5 pyih., that he was riot to .'be out after seven o'clock! at night, and that h6 found a repogriisance of £-200 to be"' of good bfehavior, and his Honor iritima ted that tne prisoner's father's bond Wbufd be accepted. A further order Was made that the costs of the proBipcritiori shbuM 'have to be paid withiri orie iriorith. His Honor explained to the prisoner that' if after twelve months lie shoWed SIGNS OF BETTER BEHAVIOR some of the conditions might- be relaxed a little. His Honor, after explaining to the ptisoner the effect of these conditions went on. to gjve him the • following advice :— "You are merely a. f boy, barely ljß> years Of age, artd you are quite young enough to regain your moral strength; and any . physical strength' you *may have lost.. You are old enough to appreciate the position you are m to-day, -and I hope that during the ■"petiod-t-arid I have deliberately made it a lengthy period— of your probation you will regain your moral strength and power and strive as hard as possible to lead a purer and cleaner moral life. One remedy, which I may say at your age Will assist you very much indeed, is to take plenty of out-door exercise, to direct your mind into channels which, will prevent you having sensual oi* improner thoughts, and avoid reading anything which may excite your passions." He advised him to take advice from his father, and lie trusted that his own advice would bear good fruit, and that when be arrived at manhool that he would [have rehabilitated himself somewhat. j After expressing, bis' desire to see the prisoner and" his father m his ! chambers on' Friday morn m?, his Honor directed the prisoner to be removed nervdin-j- the preparation of the nrohati*" n capers, after whioh the nris'-rer, a'cnrnpanied by his father, left the court.