"WHO WILL SAVE THE GIRL?"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16606, 9 December 1924, Page 10

"WHO WILL SAVE THE GIRL?"

SONG ENDS IN A SWIM

Three months for indecency.

At Wanganui on 'November 24 Geoffrey Bendelow. aged 40, was brought before 'Messrs S. M. Dixon and W. J. Gilberd, J.P.'s, and . charged with drunkenness audi undressing in a public place on the river bank near the Union boatsheds and committing an indecent act by bathing. The facts of the case wcro that Bendelow and his mates were in a hotel singing a chorus in which wero the words, "Who will save tlie girl?" Bendelow, who was drunk, remarked, "If you fellows won't, I will," ran over to the river, undressed, audi plunged in. The Bench sentenced him to three months. It was pointed out that owing to the prevalence of sexual cases such practices must be stopped. A largely-signed petition for release is luring forwarded to the Minister of Justice, pointing out that the sentence was altogether too severe, and no ladies were in the vicinity ad the time, and .that the. locality if, well obscured from view. The petition .also draws a comparison w;Uj an Auckland of the same date where a. motorist who Was drunk and knookc-d down a mail only received three "dfly.V imprisonment.