Corpun file 22647

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, 6 March 1923

Youth Convicted of Assault.

Judge Suggests Birching.

Father to be Castigator.

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ADELAIDE, March 5. -- Edgar Hubert Muller, whose age is 17 years and 10 months, but whose mental and physical development was stated by a doctor in court to be a boy of 14 or 15 years, was found guilty at the Criminal Court to-day of having committed an assault on a little girl.

The youth's father stated that he had been undersized since a baby, and his life had been despaired of. In reply to the judge he said he had not whipped his son since he left school, but would be willing to do so for the offence if required to.

His Honor: "I think that would be the most appropriate punishment. If the father will undertake to give his son a reasonable whipping I shall exercise the power I have to let the boy go. Otherwise I must sentence him to two years in a reformatory. A whipping would be the best thing for him, and I shall leave it to the father. If he undertakes to give his son ten strokes with a birch rod at the police station at 8 a.m. to-morrow, in the presence of the Sub-inspector of Police, and I learn at 10 o'clock to-morrow that he has done so, I shall allow him to go.

The undertaking was given.