MAGISTERIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2887, 12 December 1898, Page 4

MAGISTERIAL.

TlMAßU— Saturday, December 10th. (Before C. A. Wray, Esq., B.M. and P. E. Thoreau, Esq., J.P.) INDECENCY. A man between 50 and 60 years of age, named Thomas Richards, was charged with indecently exposing his person at Caroline Bay on Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Fraser conducted the case. Three girls about 16 and 17 years of age, gave evidence that they had been bathing on Wednesday afternoon, and afterwards sat down near the rubble wall. They had sat some time talking, when one of them drew the attention of the others to the accused, who was sitting on or leaning against a rock between 20 and 30 yards from them with his person fully exposed towards them. He remained m that position for between 5 and 10 minutes, and then, as a lady and child came along the beach, he got up, adjusted his dress and walked away, returning however soon after and passing close to the girls, who had a good look at him, and were therefore able to identify him positively. He said nothing to them, and they were sure from the way he walked he was sober, and that he was not exposed to answer any call of nature. Constable Crawford stated that the offence was reported about 1 p.m on Friday by the father of one of the girls, who could give only a very general description of the offender. However by dint of enquiry, m which he was assisted by Constable Dalton, he learned something which led him to go to Temuka by the first train that morning, taking one of the girls with him ; and then with Constable Bradley he went to the accused's camp, m the riverbed about a mile from Temuka, and the girl having identified the accused witness arrested him on this charge. He did not admit the charge but admitted that he was at Caroline Bay on Wednesday afternoon, and said he went there to get out of the way because he had had some drink. A similar complaint had been made sJbout this man three months ago. In defence, accused did not deny that he exposed himself, though he did not remember doing it. He asserted most emphatically, however, that if he did it was not done with obscene purpose, because he saw no one m sight, did not see the girlß at all when he was at the rocks. He could not cross-examine them ; could not ask them any questions ; they might be telling the whole truth about him, but he did not see them. It was a piece of folly, a piece of rot, to say he exposed himself to the girls; he never saw them. The Magistrates conferred, and m pronouncing judgment, His Worship Baid the Court had no doubt that accused did commit the offence, and that he well knew he was doing wrong. The story of the girls showed that he was exposing himself m a disgusting and obscene manner. A place of public resort like Caroline Bay must be protected from such conduct, or no decent person would be able to go there.— Sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.