THE STOKE ORPHANAGE CASES'

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 6

THE STOKE ORPHANAGE CASES'

During the past month the charges against Brothers Kilian and Wybortus, two of the Marist Brothers who were teachers at tho Stoke Industrial School, have been heard in. the Supreme Court at Wellington', before the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Edwards. In all the eases the juries returned verdicts of not guilty. Two of the charges of indecent assault against Brother Wybortus broke down completely. The cases arose out of the inquiry into the management of the Stoke Industrial School, which investigated complaints made by'members of the Nelson Charitable Aid Board. On the report of ;the ."Royal" Commission being presented to Parliament a demand arose for a further investigation of somo statements made by former inmates. The Government handed the evidence over to the chief commissioner of police to deckle whether he should prosecute. The brothers, who had left the colony when, in accordance with the recommendations of the commission, it was decided that there should be female help at the school, voluntarily returned to face the charges. Brother Kilian was charged with common assault on some of the former inmates, two juries returning a verdict of not guilty. The Crown thereupon abandoned the remainder of the charges. Brother Wybertus was charged with indecent assault as well as common assault. Two of the cases broke down completely, Mr Justice Edwards remarking in one case that he would not hang a. cat on. the evidence. In three other cases the juryreturned a verdict of ■ not guilty, and the Crown decided not to proceed with the remainder:'