SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A TEACHER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14277, 28 July 1908, Page 7

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A TEACHER

ACCUSED COMMUTED FOR TRIAL. At tho City Police Court yesterday, before Mr C. C. Graham, 8.31., Frank George llclliop, aged 23 years, was charged with having, between May 15 and Juno 30 indecently assaulted a. female pupil at the Mornington School, the pupil "being under the age of 16 years. Accused was defended by Jf r A, C Ballon. Chief Detcctivo Herkrt said (hero wore four informations altogether-one in regard to tho present pupil ami three aimilar chargos in regard to other pupils. The circumstances wero not of an agreeable nature, and he suggested that the court should bo cleared 'L'lio court was then cleared. Continuing, Chief Detective Herbert said tho facts, bnofly, wero that accused was a teacher at the -Mornington School and ho of the Fifth Standard room, pupil in regard to whom the oliargo was laid iros a pupil in tlio Fifth Standard, and accused mado a practice of sitting beside tins girl, jjo mo knowledge of what •had _ occurred was brought under the attention of the head master (Mr Davidson), and on June 30 ho spoke to Melhop, who admitted that ho had behaved properly, and ho was at once suspended. After his suspension accused cleared' out, «md was arrested at Waihi (Auckland).. '* hen ai-rested accused said lie was ruined for life, and that his actions had resulted from moral weakness rather than criminal intent. The pupil, an intelligent-looking girl, who gave Jior age as 14 yeais, gave 6videnco as to improper conduct on the part of the accuscd on two occasions on the afternoon of a day about a month ago. The witness proceeded to give evidence of similar conduct on other dates, but Mr Han lon objected, on the ground that evidence in regard to other chavgos could not ho given on an information dealing .with one charge, and the bench upheld tho objection. Chief Detcctive Herbert: We have laid four informations, but we could have laid 40. Tho form adopted has been for the purpose of shortening the proceedings, and to rave the depositions from being overblirdoned. If other evidence is not admitted nWsrous other informations will bare to bo laid, and the proceedings may extend for several days. Mr Hanlcm: 1 am not condcrned with •Ihow long the proceedings take; I wish to get at tlio truth. The witness stated in further evidence that the improper conduct took place durthe teaching of the class. .Evidence .in support of tho charge was given by three other girls, aged respectively 13, 12 and 13 years and by a boy aged 13 years. William Davidson, head master of the school stated that on June 30 ho spoke to laccused. On that date, about 2.30 p.m., llr Henderson, a member of tJie school oonimitteo, called on him and asked if he (the head master) had hoard any stories about the accused. In consequence of what was said, witness entered the Fifth Standard room about 3.15 p.m., and suggested that tho children should be dismissed at once. Ho told the accused immediately afterwards that thcro were stories in circulation affecting his riioral ami professional character. Witness 6aid to him: "I may say I assume the 6torics to bo false, and I shall at once inquire into them, and will let you know more to-morrow morning." Accuscd mado no reply, tend witness asked him not to discuta it .just then,; and they Separated. Witness saw accused again at 9 a.m. tho following day in his office, and 6aid to him: " X find this matter has assumed a. more serious aspect than I anticipated, If you tan say the accusation is absolutely false no one will strive harder than I will to clear your character." Accuscd replied that he had been very foolish in acting as he bad done, and asked what he should do. Witness said: " I shall have to suspend you at once." Accused asked if he would have to give a month's notice, and witness said ho could not allow him to teach the class again, and that, as scon as ho (witness) had arranged the clatscs, within an hour he would report the matter to Mr Goyen (chief inspector) and to Mr Pryde (secretory of the Education Board). He suggested that accused should think well over this position, and come and seo witness that, afternoon after the school had been dismissed. Witness reported the matter to Messrs Pryde, Goyen, Haelett, and NicolBon (tho two last-named being chairman and secretary respectively of tho school committee). At 4.30 p.m. the same day witness saw accused again, and accused said he would go to the Slate ooal mine aud try to got _ work. He seemed to have no odea of being m a serious position. Witness saw no more of accused after that. Another girl, 13 yoars of age, also gave evidence as to accused's alleged improper conduct. Constablo Driscoll, stationed at AVaihi, Stated that ho arrested accuscd on the prosent charge, Ho said when arrested: "I expected this. lam ruined for life. I thought they would hush it up. I did what I did more from moral weakness than .with oriminal intent." Accuscd reserved his defence, and was formally committed for trial at tlx) next criminal sessions of the Slupreme Court, bad being fixed at. self in £200 and two Bureties of £100 each, tho understanding toeing that the bail would cover committals (if any) in other charges. A further charge of indecent assault on a female pupil, 13 years of apo, was then taken. ' Evidence in support of tho charge was pivon by two girls and a boy, also by Mr Davidson and Constable Driscoll. Accused reserved his dofence, and was formally committed for trial on tho ohargc. Two charges of indecent assault upon female pupils, each 13 years of age, were then proceeded with, and on these accused Was also committed for trial.