GRAVE CHARGES

Southland Times, Issue 20523, 27 June 1928, Page 7

GRAVE CHARGES

A LENGTHY LIST ELEVEN MEN CONCERNED OFFENCES ALLEGED AGAINST GIRLS (Per United Preen Association.) Christchurch, June 26. Serious charges were brought against eleven men in the Magistrate’s Court today concerning three girls who had escaped from the Girls’ Home at Burwood. In some cases the charge was unlawful carnal knowledge and in others, harbouring escapees under the Child Welfare Act and in some cases both. There were 47 informations in all. Chief Detective Carrol said that three girls who had escaped from the Home had met accused men from about February 17 until two months later. The Magistrate ordered the suppression of the names of the girls. The charges of harbouring were all adjourned until August 22, and the other charges proceeded with. The accused men and the offences alleged against them were as follows:— Victor Robert Blackburn, carnal knowledge (four counts), harbouring (four counts) ; George Boloski, carnal knowledge (one count) and * harbouring (two counts) ; Ernest Crozier, carnal knowledge (one), harbouring (four); James Hannan, carnal knowledge (three), harbouring (four) ; Albert Crozier, harbouring (three) ; Alfred Langley Philip Gibbens, harbouring (four) ; Maurice Victor Rossiter, carnal knowledge (two) ; Timothy Rogal, carnal knowledge (four), harbouring (two) ; Francis Arthur Partridge, harbouring (two) ; George Quaid, carnal knowledge (one), harbouring (four) ; Frederick James Fox Sullivan, carnal knowledge (one). To-day evidence was taken only in the cases of Blackburn, Boloski, Ernest Crozier and Hannan. The other cases were adjourned till to-morrow. Blackburn was committed for trial on bail of £5O and one surety of £5O. The charge against Boloski was dismissed, the evidence of the girl concerned being that she could not remember accused as being guilty of the offence alleged. Crozier was committed for trial. One information against Hannan was dismissed, but the others have not yet been heard.