William Glendinning Riddell (20 October 1865 – 1 October 1957) was a magistrate in New Zealand.

History

Riddell was born in Ivybank, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand, a son of Walter Riddell and Wilhelmina Brown Riddell née Glendinning.

He was appointed magistrate in Invercargill, New Zealand in January 1905.[1]

He made news in Australia in the case of a high-ranking public servant who had behaved indecently before young schoolgirls in a park. Rather than impose a jail sentence Riddell had him admitted to a mental health institution for a year, eligible for early release if recognised as no longer likely to offend. The newspaper questioned whether a laborer would get the same treatment.[2]

He retired from the Bench in December 1928. Tributes from H. Johnston, president of the Wellington Law Society were published in the national newspapers.[3]

He died in Wellington.

Recognition

Riddell was the subject of a caricature by David Low, published in Caricatures by Low (1915).

References

  1. ↑ "Mr W. G. Riddell S.M." Otago Witness. No. 2653. 18 January 1905. p. 40. Retrieved 17 January 2022 – via PapersPast.
  2. ↑ "A Maoriland Misfit". Truth (Perth newspaper). No. 876. Western Australia. 15 May 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 17 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Retiring Magistrate". Taranaki Daily News. 12 December 1928. p. 11. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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