SHOCKING INCEST CASE.

NZ Truth, Issue 952, 23 February 1924, Page 3

SHOCKING INCEST CASE.

Maximum Sentence Imposed

(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)

Although the criminal calendar at last week's Dunedin Supreme Court session was comparatively light, the majority of the cases were classified as sexual.

No spectacle plays a more terrible tattoo on the emotions than that of a girl entering 1 the witness-box to relate how she was debauched by her father, to whom under ordinary circumstances she would have been justified m looking for protection from life's many trials and temptations, A deep impression was created when William Patrick Sheehan was charged with having on January 7, 1924, committed incest with his daughter aged 19; and with haviner on January 8, 1924, indecently assaulted two other daughters aged 14 and 12 respectively, »Accused, who acknowledged his guilt m a voice that was scarcely audible, glanced furtively round the room and gave the impression that he was anxious to get the sorry business over as quickly as possible. The offences were committed while the mother of the household was being confined with her sixth child. Mr. C. J. L. White, who appeared for accused, said he could not hope for leniency but there were one or two facts he would like to place before hi.".Honor. Accused, who was 43 years of age, had lived all his life In Dunedln nnd had a family of six, the youngest only a month old. When quite young he met with an injury to his head and Inter on m life he hnd spent some time m hospital through having fallen from a dray. He was wounded at OulHpoll, and while taking part m the Palestine campaign suffered a general breakdown. Counsel had n medical report before him m which the doctor stated that accused was a sexual pervert nnd that his unfortunate weakness was accentuated by previous head wounds and over-indulgence m alcohol. The Crown Prosecutor: The police report la a very bad one. The offence ngainst the oldest girl had been carried out under circumstances that amounted to rape, for accused had used threats of murder to force her to submit to his desires. On another occasion he drove the plrl down the peninsula In hl« tnxl nnd attempted to repeat theoffence, while he alxo mmV nn appointment with her to moet him fit P o'clock another night. It wasn't as though It was a single Isolated case of n man acting under the Influence of Mquor, for during the night of January 7 the offence was committed more than once, and then there was the Indecent assault of tho two younger girla the following day. His Honor: It In usual In cases of this kind to inflict the maximum penalty and I see no reason to depirt from that practice In this case. Accused will bo sentenced to ten years' imprisonment on the charge of Incest nnd to one year on each of tho charges of Indecent assault, tho sentences to be cumulative. A pale-faced, clgnrette-llnned youth of 19, who anß\ver<»<l to tlm name of fj«ofc<» PMHn Prftttlev. pl*ftrt<»rt eullty that he did Indecently ns»«Ault his *•«- ter. In that nhout November. 1922. when she was 14 yenrs of niro. ho attempted to have carnal knowledge of her. Mr. Irwln: Th"r<» f«« no* much thnt I mn hoy on his beholf. lie In nnprenticed to a trail" and nrev'on.i to this unnccountah'" lnppi» he bon 1 n Knnd character. Ills jvrents nro thornuehlv respectable f>nd I can only nsk th^t your Honor deal with htm as leniently as possible. The Crown Prosecutor: Some ll»t'« time ago the ulrl gave birth to a chllil, but she wild accused was no' Mie father. In fact she n^ld sho didn't know who was responsible. Ill* Honor: T think tho host course to ndont In In nlncc him unuVr the con. irol nf ih<» Prisons Board and ho will be \<letnlM*vJ for r^formallvo purpoHex for a period of thri»e yw*.