BEASTLY CONDUCT PUNISHED.

NZ Truth, Issue 243, 19 February 1910, Page 6

BEASTLY CONDUCT PUNISHED.

Judge Sim inflicted severe penalties at Christchurch m indecency cases. In that of a sawny-looking young fellow of 22, named Harry Britcliffe, charged with indecent assault upon a boy of fourteen, the case was heard with closed , doors, and a report of the evidence was forbidden. ;.-.•.

Accused was found guilty, and m reply to 'the Bench the Crown prosecutor stated tfcat BritcJiffe had previously been found guilty of theft of fruit, and he possessed a certain low cunning. He was more or less of a degenerate, counsel thought. His Honor said the crime of which the accused had been found guilty was considered so serious by the Legislature that the maximum penalty was a life sentence. .He would be imprisoned for five years, with hard labor. A man of 52 years named Julien Huggens was found guilty of indecency with a boy of eleven at Lyttelton, m revolt-ing-circumstances.

The Crown Prosecutor mentioned that accused had come from the Commonwealth and nothing was known about him., He had been twelve., months, m New Zealand, ,working at the port as a wharf lumper. A sentence of five years with hard labor .was imposed m this case also.