A HORRIBLE HAWKER

NZ Truth, Issue 915, 9 June 1923, Page 5

A HORRIBLE HAWKER

A Jolt For Johnston

Sir Frederick Chapman administered a steadier to tho type, nil too common, of craven prowlers given to tho molestation with sexual Intent of unprotected women when passing sentence of two years' hard labor on one «pi the sort at tho Supreme Court m Wellington at tho end of last ■yvoel:. The prisoner was a fruit hawker, John Henry William Jumes Thomaa Johnston, who had been found guilty of indecent assault, the third count of an indictment arising out of an assault of a peculiarly obnoxious nature on v young married woman at Potono. He is a big man, this Johnston, about 13 stone, and the victim was a small, nervous little woman whom the hawKer found alone In the house, and forcing hia way m, made her submit to his embracos. At the trial, Lawyer Mazengarb appeared for the prisoner and requested his Honor to reserve a point for the Court. of. Appeal regarding the admissibillty of certain evidence adduced by the Crown an to tho Rood charactor if the prosecutrlx and her mother. These points being declined by his Honor, counsel proceeded: "It is difficult to state any reason why your Honor should ndvance leniency, ns m common with other Judges your Honor LOOKS WITH CONSIDERABLE ALARM on this class of offence." It wan tho third count, however, which prisoner was found guilty on. that of Indecent assault and not of attorn p ted rap».

His Honor intimated that ho knew that very well, and always sentonced a prisoner on what he was found guilty ql and nothing more. Counsel added that the man had been convicted onco before, but that was nineteen years ago, before he was married, but now ho had a wifo and three children dependent on him. The man had something to keep straight for, and was not one of those more or less homeless, Irresponsible beings who had no aim m life ant* nothing to rehabilitate themselves for on their release. He asked that tho sentence be ono that would not cause tho prisoner to lose heart and abandon himself to immorality. Crown Prosecutor Macawscy naid tho man had been convicted twice, previously. Born m England 37 years ago, ho came to New Zealand m 1902. and followed the occupation of hotel porter and seaman until 1904. when ho commenced fruit hawking. In 1906 he was convicted for threatening bohavior and In the same year was sentenced to two years' hard labor for indecent assault on a male. Tho present was a daotardly offence. "I bear m mind," said his Honor, "that you were found guilty on tho third count, but I have to consider my duty to young women and girls. You made inquiries as to who was m tho nous* and took advantage of the fam that she was alone. I know very well Xhat a large number of girls and young women are exposed to that risk from prowlers who are disposed to take advantage of their being alone. I have alao to remember that you have before been convicted for a sexual offence. You should have taken tho sentence you served then as a warning tor the r«st of your life."