UNKNOWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2673, 7 June 1905, Page 14

UNKNOWN.

SENTENCED TO FLOGGING. iNVERCARGILL, May 31. At the Supreme Court to-day Albert Prentice (23) and Thos, Bernard Finnerty (22) were found guilty of rape on Mrs O Shannessey in East Invercargill on Good • Friday night, with 'revolting and ultrabesfcial circumstances five men having forced their way into her house and treated the woman most outrageously, afterwards destroying her belongings and 'the windows. Prentice, a hairdresser, camp from Victoria in 1902, and has been twice convicted here of unprovoked assaults on women. In the first case the landlady of an hotel, who ordered him off the premises for misbehaviour, and in the second a married woman calkin? home with her husband on the niprhi, of. and- previous to, the committal of ihe major offence. Finnerty is a native of Invercarsiill who has gone to the bad, having abandoned his home. His Honor Mr Justice Williams said he would consider what sentence he would pass. *i. lx. a ~ June 1. At the Supreme Court to-day, Albert Prentice, aged 23, and James Bernard -Bmnerty, aged 22, were found guilty of indecent assault under revolting circumstances. When passing sentence Mr Justice Williams remarked that the maximum penaty was life imprisonment and three floggings. Althouarh flowing was very repugnant fco him, if it was not inflicted in thus case it might jmt as well be wiped off the (statute Book altogether. The circumstances under wliioh the crime was committed were of the most disgusting nature Words could not express the fee 1 ing of every decent member of the community concerning the outrage. Each prisoner would bo sentenced to 12 years' hard labour, and be ordered to receive a flowing of 25 strokes. Frederick Rodgers. 25 years of a<rp who accompanied the previous prisoners, pleaded gudty to damaging the houw and furniutre of the woman assaulted, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with hard labour. Francis Edward Sudden, 24- years of age, ■who pleaded gui'tv to indecent assault at Winton, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with hard labour. A Brass Bands' Association has been formed on the West Coast.