LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1041, 2 February 1911, Page 3

LAW REPORTS.

SUPREME COURT. | CRIMINAL SESSIONS OPENED. JUDGE'S COMMENT. The first criminal session of the Supreme Court for the present year opened yesterday. Only ten tills, were submitted to the Grand Jury by Mr. Justice Chapman. Thn following Grand Jury was empanelled :—Messrs. F. G. Cray (foreman), H. A. Kirkcnldie, J. Hardie Shaw, Jns. M'Lollan; C. W. Taylor, J.'S. Carter, F. East, F. Norris, R. C. Eenner, D. A. Kennedy, J. F. Rose, W. T. Brnnton, David Jones, Wi. Crichton, A. E. Odlin, F. J. Shelton, 11. B. Ecid, S. Brcdin, J. P. Blacklock, A: G. SaunUers, J. Dalrymple, and Henry. Edwards. HIS HONOUR'S CHARGE. CASES THAT. ALWAYS COME UP. In his charge to the . Grand Jury his Honour remarked tliat the , bills did not suggest any high degree.of criminality. On tue contrary, where a periodic sitting, such as tli is. only disclosed ten indictable charges, he thought tho country had reason to congratulate' itself. He was very sorry to see, However, that there wero some serious charges. There were several charges of criminal assault on •cuuuren ot tender years and it was a griev.ous matter that, session alter ses-

sion, ono ■ should have to deal with cases oi tne kind, Such was the fact, however, and it was lound over a large part of this country. Ho did not know that it could be said that tho ratio of this class of , crime was higher in New Zealand in proportion to the total amount of crime than it was elsewhere, but still it was a lnmentablo fact that at each ses.sion, the Court was called upon to deal with some cases of the kind. His Honour, proceeded to deal in detail with several of the bills. In ono of the assault cases he said tho person accused was a music teacher, aim was brought into a house for the purpose of instructing children in music. According to the evidence in' tho Lower Court tho man . had made improper uso of his position. In another of theso cases'the principal witness was a very young child, three years of age, probably , a younger witness than they iiad ever had before, but there was no legal limit to the age, and he had previously' admitted the-evidence, of childTen of very, tender years.' Outside of this class the rest of the eases: wero of a normal character. There, was a charge of violent assault committed with a bottle, and a further charge of violent assault in which • the ■ person assaulted had been so seriously injured'that her condition for. a time caused, considerable anxiety to the medical authorities. There was ■ another • charge. of. assault, and. there were also.'several' ordinary charges of breaking . and entering and stealing.

. TRUE BILLS. ' True bills were returned by tho Grand 'Jury in the''following charges:—Walter Easier, criminal assault; Joseph Banneker .Edgir, criminal assault;- Matthew Cooper, assault; Win. Thomas, alias Thompson, theft from a. dwelling; Hred'sriok . Rollin, criminal . assault; Geor«o Herbert .Conroy, breaking and entering and theft; George Williams, assault with-intent to rob;.. Albert Murphy, attempted housebrenkins; Henry Jowph Clements, .wounding, with intent.- - The charge against Clements will not bo • taken .before Monday, and .the- case ■'against-C.OPP.er. (the Mein Street case)• 'will not , 'cOine on befbro Saturday morning; After the first uiry had'been selrct-ed,-tho balance of the- jurors were dismissed until' , 10.30 this morning. FROMDWELLING-.. '■■■',"■ .. PLEA, OF'.GUILTY.. . . ... A yo';ng' man named Wm. Thomas, alias Thompson, pleaded guilty ■ to n charge of having on January 6, 'at-Wel-lington, stolen a silvtr chain;' VL'hiscl at 10s. lid from the dwelling of Patrick Quirke. Prisoner was remanded for sentence. In tho'meantime an order was mado for the return of the chain to Quirke. Mr. H. H. Ostler appeared for the Crown. ■ ■

APPARENTLY- AN INDISCRETION. ; CROWN CHARGE FAILS. ■A plea of. not guilty was entered.by a well-dressed young man, who was charged that, at.Newtown on January 8, he com-, mitted an act of indeccEcy, with intent to insult or offend. ■' After hearing evidence at considerable length the jury returned a verdict of not guilty without retiring. The forenia'n announced that in the opinion of the' jury accused may havo committed an act of indiscretion. Accused was thereupon discharged. Mr. Herdman appeared for the defence, and Jlr. Ostler for the Crown. : The Court rose at 4.55 p.m. until 10.30 I-this morning. ■