CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 844, 17 January 1883, Page 2

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

[by telegraph. ]

Auckland.

Auckland, The quarterly session of the Supreme Court opened to-day. Judge Gillies, in his charge to the Grand Jury, stated that there were 37 prisoners, charged with 29 offences. He remarked on the increase of crime in the. district* which he found difficult to account lop. It was a singular fact th.t when, ond ot two crimes of a particular character hap* pened in the district, others followed. He had no doubt that the sensational -aC’ counts in the newspapers .had had some* thing to do with it. Such reports had .a pernicieas effect on young persons and those of emotional temperament. Re* ferring to the Hamilton murder case, he said that while the investigating Magistrate had done right in committing the' prisoners on the evideme, the Grand Jury would have to be satisfied that that evidence was sufficient to warrant them in believing the prisoners guilty, before finding a true bill. They could take no cognizance of any intention to produce, further evidence, however serious the case op strong the suspicion of guilt, the Grand. Jury found true bills against R. O. Bregstock and Owen Sime, for forgery ; Mark Marks and Sampson Josaphson, for stalling from a shop ; A. R, Long, for attempting parricide. No bills were rettirded against Annie Stackpole, for concealment*' of birth ; Hotaia, for horsestealing, and Ellen Curtis, for stealing from the person

Wellington. W Ellington - , To-day. Tha Supreme Court criminal opened this morning. The Judge's’Ohatgs to the Grand Jury lasted only ? ' two ; minutes. He congratulated th*ni dn u t6p. lightness of the calendar, there cases of a serious character. A true sll was found against Henry freeman,- for house-breaking. The trial is proceeding. True Bills were found against Sarah Parnell for wounding, Julia O’Barne for attempted suicide, Peter Walsh attempted larceny. Ho Bill was found against Annie, alias Mary, Brown for larceny from the person. - ■- > <' Dunedin. Dcnbdin, To-day. ■ ’ \ The criminal sessions commenced this morning. His Honor’s charge merely referred briefly to the cases on the calendar. He remarked that none of them called fojjr special comment. There, are six oases,, jo* volving charges of indecency. Gebrge Henry Hill pleaded guilty to house-break* ing, and was sentenced to six months. Robert Galbraith (on two indictments), for forgery, was sentenced to six„ months. John Yorston was convicted of attempted rape, sentence being deferred. William Forshaw pleaded guilty to two indictments for stealing sewing machines. Sentence was deferred. Christchurch. Christchurch, To-day. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Gqurt opened this morning. Judge Johnatqn in his charge expressed hia ap? proval of the recent change with regard’ to the administration of criminal justice,: Daniel Meat, for larceny froiq a dwelling,: was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Herman Hempton for forgery (three. cases) was sentenced to 4 years.