CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1748, 13 May 1913, Page 7

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

AUCKLAND'S SHOCKING LIST. (By Telegraph.—Frees Association.) Auckland, May 12. At the opening of the criminal sessions of tho Supreme Court to-day Air. Justice Cooper, in the course ot Uis address to the brand Jury, said that, whilo the number of charges which they would have to investigate was not above the average number in the district—indeed, it was slightly below it—the calendar for the present; quarterly sittings consisted of many more serious crimes than that it was usually the duty of the Grand Jury to investigate. Practically, all tho more serious crimes known to tne law were on the list. There were charges of murder, manslaughter, abortion, indecent assault, incest, tliet't from the person, breaking and entering, and other charges of a more or less serious degree. Ho regretted that, in this district, there should bo so much serious crime. At the present there were altogether twenty-four charges on the list. Alfred lluwso'u was found guilty of the theft of a watch and chain from William Mumford. He was sefitcnced to six months' imprisonment. James Edward Mangan was found guilty of stealing a chequo for Jtis, the property of George Nicoit. Ho ' was sentenced to sii mouths' imprisonment. Decrees nisi were granted by Mr. Justice Edwards in the ca'ses of .William Vureker iiindon v. Kate Bindon; Ellen Emma Poll v. Carl Poll; Matilda Garton v. Charles Weldou Garton; Martha Steurt v. Basil-Steurt; 'William Anderson I've v. Annie Pyc.

CHJUSTCHUKCH. TRIALS. Christchurch, May 12. The Supremo Court criminal sessions opened to-day before Mr. Justico Dennistoa, who, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said that the calendar was a some-' what heavy one, There were 18 indictments against 17 persons. Six of these,' lie regretted to say, were sexual cases. They were not very serious ones of their type, however, there being more lewdness Euan, anything els?.' l'rederic 'Willian Bradshaw, whose sentence for theft liad been held over from the previous sessions, in order to allow certain inquiries to be made, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, llis Honour stated that, but for prisoner's age (51) years) he would havo received a more substantial term. Tlios. Morton, who pleaded guilty to a chargo of breaking and entering, was sentenced to'two years' imprisonment, and warned that if he came before the Court again, he would be treated as an habitual criminal. John Bradley (22 years) was sentenced to two month!' imprisonment for the theft of money, and ordered afterwards to complete a term of reformative treatment. Alexander Harold (1G years) was convicted of indecent assault, and was sentencedto threo years' imprisonment. William .U'Kwan received a sentence of threo years for breaking and entering.

DUNKDIN SESSIONS. Dunedin, May 12. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court this morning lasted fifty minutes. There were only two charges, and each prisoner pleaded • guilty. John Jteddan, who broke into a fancy goods shop at Oaraaru, was admitted to probation for three years, on condition that he takes out a prohibition order. John Prcntice, for theft from the person on the Wingatui. racecourse, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on the understanding that he does not again drink to excess.