EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16498, 2 August 1924, Page 9

EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

A MAD INFATUATION

‘ACTED PART OF TEAIPTRESS.’’

A strange story of a young married mail’s violent infatuation for a girl under 16 years of age, culminating in a charge of indecent assault, was revealed in the Supreme Court, Wellington, when Cyril Wagstatf appeared' before Air. Justice Reed on the above-mentioned charge.

Accused, who was represented by Air. Cooper, pleaded' guilty. Mr. Cooper, counsel for accused, said that, while lie did! not propose to take his stand on the “blame-the-wonian” principle, there was no doubt that the girl was, to a certain extent, the temptress in the matter. In the circumstances, lie thought that probation might be granted to accused. The accused, counsel said, had had a gooff record, was getting on well in £he world, and had a wife and young child. He seemed to have become madlyfinfatuated with this girl, and the extraordinary tiling was that he had, at the same time, been apparently living on good, terms with his wife. This, counsel admitted, might not increase the favor of the accused in the eyes of the Court, but—there it was. It was a ease in which it might be better for everyone concerned if accused were not sent to prison.

His Honor agreed that from the evidence it was clear that the girl had acted the part of temptress, but the law was designed for the protection of such girls, and to prevent men from taking advantage of them. Hp did not' prop.ose to deal with accused! then, but, lie would come up for sentence on Saturday.