A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 1349, 11 June 1907, Page 5

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Per Press Association.

AUCKLAND, June 10.

Ernest Claude Sheppard, a welldressed youth, aged 16, pleaded not guilty at tho Criminal Court, before Mr Justice Denniston, to a charge of committing a criminal assault upon a girl over the age of sixteen.

The evidence was that the girl, whose age is 19, was an employee of a typist having an office in a block of Queen Street buildings, and accused a derk in an insurance office on the ground floor. Accused occasionally saw the girl, and during a conversation in a passage he playfully took a ring off her finger. Two or three day* later lie ascertained what time she left the 6ffice, and was waiting for her between 5 and 6 o'clock, when he told her she could have the ring back if she Game into the office. Taking her into an inner room, he locked the door | and committed the offence, against her will. Mr Tole said that the facts were adi mittcd, the only question being whether the girl gave her consent. The principal witness, cross-examin-ed, said no offence had ever been previously committed upon her.' When the offence had been committed by Sheppard another youth came in and expressed his intention of interfering with her> but desisted when she cried out. D 9. Lewis said there were io marks of violence. If she had resisted, lie would have expected to have found some marks'. . . His Honour referred in strong terms to the frequency of sexual crime, and declared an extromely sound pfhysical correction would be the way to punish aceiised. However , v the.y were not trying him for improper conduct, but for a serious criminal offence.

A verdict of acquittal was returned by the jury, who requested the foreman to state they regretted the accused could not -be punished for his blackguardly, conduct. ; His Honour : I ,quite agree with that. Accused was discharged.