A SERIOUS OFFENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 7

A SERIOUS OFFENCE.

JIVE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED-.

AUCKLAND, May 21. The exemplary sentence of live years' imprisonment was imposed this morning on John Davies, who was charged. at the Supremo Court, before Mr Justice Stringer, with committing an indecent assault upon a little girl aged eight years and a-half. "You have been convicted of a very serious offence, committed with deliberation," said his Honor in passing- sentence. "It i 3 deplorable that little cnildrsn should bo liable to maltreatment bv men of your stamp. The frequency of such cases ; especially in this district, leads me to think that judges should take into serious consideration whether they should not take advantage of tho powers they possess and administer, in addition to imprisonment, the punishment of flogging. Judges are naturally reluctant to impose such a brutalising punishment, but if it is not possible for children to travel along a public road in safety something must be done to deter such men as you. I do not intend to order flogging in your case. I merely throw out the suggestion as a warning. When you committed tho offence you may have been to spmo extent, under the influence of liquor, but the evidence shows premeditation. I should not be justified in sentencing you to other than a long term of imprisonment, which will at any rate free the roads of you. The sentence of the court is that you be imprisoned for five years."