People v. Cook

Respondent was convicted of assault and taking indecent liberties with a female child of the age of ten without committing or intending to commit the crime of rape. The child, when not in school, frequently played at or near a gasoline station near her home. Respondent was in charge of the station. While the testimony shows that the child swore, begged money, and showed a total lack of proper training and attention, her story of the crime seemed convincing to the jury, notwithstanding respondent’s complete denial. She testified that he frequently gave her money and would take her down into…