A MORAL PERVERT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19366, 24 July 1925, Page 11

A MORAL PERVERT

AUCKLAND ARTIST AND HIS MODELS SCATHING REMARKS BY S.M. (Per Press Ab<«ociation.) AUCKLAND, July 23. Charles Horace Bettany appeared at the Police Court this morning before Mr Boynton, S.M., for sentence, having yesterday been convicted on each of two charges of assault on young girls. Chief-Detective Cummings said that accused was a native of New Zealand. 41 years of age. He was a married man and had five children. Bettany had been in business for a time in Auckland. During the last few years he had

also travelled overseas. He had advertised for office girls and received hundreds of applications. Several complaints had been received by the police lately about accused’s behaviour. Sometimes Bettany would kiss them and ask them to put their arms around him. Some dozens of letters of application from girls and young -women contained marginal notes made in code by Bettany. Following are samples of the marginal notes as read out to the Bench by the chief detective: “Tongan girl, big, speaks well, may pose. Started to kiss her, but she passively resisted;” “Started the job. but proved a wowser;” “Yankee with goggles, wants too much money;” “Rather empty headed;” “nice, but a wowser, wouldn’t entertain posing;” “Nice but fooled me, absolutely unreliable;” “Absolute

swine, fierce looking and powdered all ever.” When an applicant mentioned that she could get references from ministers or churches of the 'i .W.C.A. these were all underlined in blue pencil by accused.

The chief detective added that Bettany’s family had recently been receiving charitable aid, yet accused had plenty of money to spend on advertisements for girls. Notes made by accused all suggested immorality. There was little doubt that accused was a pervert. The case was one for more than a fine, as it was a serious matter to advertise for office girls and inveigle them to his office where they would have to submit to such conduct and treatment. “We are doing our best to prevent juvenile depravity but actions like those of accused neutralize much of our efforts,” said Mr Poynton. “It is not so much the physical injuries he may do as the debasing mental influence that results from such acts. The minds of young girls and boys are easily defiled and conduct like that which accused appears to have carried on for some time and with numerous young women must have had a corrupting influence on many of them. If Bettany receives the j longest sentence this Court can give him, he would, on release, probably rel sumo his lewd practices. it would be better to keep him on the chain for a long period rather than windictively punish him. He will be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on the first charge, and on the second lie will be admitted to three years’ probation.”