SUPREME COURT SESSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 824, 24 May 1910, Page 6

SUPREME COURT SESSIONS.

POWELKA BEOUGHT TO PALMERS-

{By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Palmerston, May 23. A large number of extra police officers are on duty in Palmerston just now, these including Inspector Wilson, of Wanganui, Detectives Cassells, Siddells, and Quartermain, besides a number of constables. Most of these officers are wit-

nesses in ' tho cases against Joseph | Powelka, who arrived from Wellington to-day in charge of Warder Downes. Tho Supreme Court sessions opened today, with Mr. Justice Cooper presiding. Mr. J. M. Johnston was chosen foreman of the Grand Jury, and his Honour, in charging the latter, stated that they were to be congratulated on tho entire absence of any sexual cases on the chargesheet. He pointed out that tho most serious cases were tho charges against Powelka, which were classed under two heads—(l) Those which were alleged to have been committed before ho was originally arrested; and (2) those which it was alleged he had committed after his escape from gaol. His Honour then traversed the charges against Powelka, in which finger-print evidence would be adduced. This was now admitted as acceptable evidence, as it was accepted that the chances of finger-prints being alike were about one to a billion. In regard to the charge of murder against Powelka, his Honour stated that thero was, firstly, a chain of alleged circumstances connecting Powelka with the murder; secondly, Hampton recognised his voice; thirdly, Powelka himself was armed, and the bullet found in the body of the murdered I man was identical with the bullets found |in Powelka's revolver. He did not wish I to add anything that would prejudice priI soner in his trial.

The Grand Jury then retired, and after a considerable time found truo bills in the whole of the cases brought before them. The task was an arduous oue, there being thirteen indictments against Powelka alone.

In consulting with counsel as to the order of the business, his Honour stated that if all the civil cases were proceeded with the list would be quite as formidable as that which had just come before tho Court in Wellington. It might be necessary to adjourn the Court here for a time in order to allow him to take the criminal cases at Wanganui, but whoa those were through, he would at once return to Palmerston. He added that he would not tako the Powelka cases before Wednesday. l The retrial of Archibald Muir, charged with stealing cheques to tho amount of «CBOO from the National Mortgage and Agency Company, at Longburn,. was then proceeded with. It is expected that this case will occupy at least two days. AUCKLAND CASES. Auckland, May 23. Tho Supremo Court criminal sessions opened this morning. Mr. Justice Chapman commented on the lengthy calendar, but remarked that the crime statistics of New Zealand compared more than favourably with those .of other countries. It was regrettable that there were so many youthful criminals, and their number showed the need for legislative reform. He expressed gratification that the Government was doing so much in this respect, and also expressed approval of the Probation, First Offenders, and Indeterminate Sentences legislation, and said it was a question whether the latter should not apply to incorrigible women. IN DIVORCE. Christcliurch, May 23. A decree nisi was granted in the case Randall Crowley v. Sarah Crowley, petition for divorce on the ground of misconduct. The case llalligan v. Halligan was postponed to permit the parties to con* sider tho question of agreeing to a separation order. Auckland, May 23. In tho Supremo Court, in Divorce, a decree nisi was granted in the case Edward Bowles v. Agnes Jane Bowles and.Daniel Stewart, co-respondent, in which tho jury found that misconduct had taken place, and that tho petitioner had nof been guilty of cruelty to' the respondent. ■