AN ARTIST'S MODEL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 6

AN ARTIST'S MODEL.

AUCKLAND PROSECUTION. WHAT AN ADVERTISEMENT BROUGHT ABOUT. iPeb United F.bess Association.) AUCKLAND. Julv 10. In the Police Court this afternoon a married man, 41 years of age, carrying on business in the city as an agent, was charged with unlawfully assaulting two girls. The case was conducted by Detective Ward, and accused was represented by Mr Matthews. A girl of 18 years testified that last week she replied to an advertisement, and in answer to her letter received a card asking her to cull at No. 12 National Chambers, Swanson street, either between 1 p.rn. and 2 p.m. or between 6 p.m, and 7 p.m. She wont at 1 p.m., and had to call later at 2 p.m. After talking about office work, the man in the office, who was the accused, referred to some pictures on the wall, and said he would ask her to do some other work She thought he said he wanted her to hold the pictures, but realised later that ho meant to pose for them. He took her behind a partition and asked her to undress while ho measured her. In regard to measurements ho explained bo wanted them so that ho would be able to use them for repairing a broken statue he showed her. She declined to undress, but he took measurements over her clothes and then measured her legs up to the thigh. In reply to Mr Matthews, the girl said she had no desire to be measured, but did not make a scene, as sho wished to get away quickly. A girl of 17 years told practically the same story, the visit being paid between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. by appointment, as had been made bv the previous witness. Detective Ward stated that when arrested by him accused said he was in business as an agent under the stylo of the Commercial Stationery Company, but ho also did drawing and modelling work. Ho said ho had got about 50 applications to his advertisement, but had not made an appointment. He had told some of the girls they could make 6s or 4s a week extra by posing for him one night g. week. Ho required the model to bo nude or just draped. He mostly did modelling, but he ekotched from tho nudo also, in order to keep his hand in. Mr Matthew's produced a number of exhibits of accused’s work as an artist to show that the latter was an artist of exceptional merit. Tho explanation that he did not advertise for a model was that the man was in poor circumstances, and could not pay for a regular model. Ho had to do other work and to get a model to pose occasionally when he could afford to pay for posing. Tho man's point of view was that of an artist, not a sensualist. Tho name of the defendant was- suppressed by an order of tho court.