On the 16th September 1870 a 20 year old sailor named John
Hind was charged with sodomy in Sunderland. Mr. Able prosecuted but Mr. Hind
did not have anyone to defend him, he was found guilty. He was sentenced to 15
years in prison. The punishment for crimes of sexual acts are not always so
severe, though in this next case perhaps it should have been. In Sunderland
1885, 26 year old Frederick Baker was charged and convicted for criminal
assault.
With the promise of pretty things a four year old girl and her younger brother
went to a timber yard with Frederick Baker, where the offence took place. Even
after having been seen committing the offence by some local lads Baker still
pleaded 'not guilty'. His defence suggested another reason for the injuries, to
the little girl. They were caused by accident, while she was playing on pit
props heaped up on the dockside. They may have also been a result of scarlet
fever. Understandably the judge was upset as he could only sentence Frederick
Baker to two years in prison, this was the maximum the law allowed.
