LAW REPORTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2613, 9 November 1915, Page 9

LAW REPORTS

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

LIST OF CASES FOR TRIAL

Fourteen persons were 011 the list foi trial at the criminal sessions, of the Supreme Court, which opened in Wellington yesterday before His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman. Several of the accused persons had more than one charge to answer. Mr. V. R. Meredith, of the Crown Law Office, represented the Crown. Craiid Jury. I' or the G rand Jury th e following were chosen Edwin George Fortescue Zohrab (foreman), Samuel Campbell, John Aston, "William Palmer, Charles Maurice Baker, George Whittle Astley, William Weekes Barber, Ernest William Philip Bucholz, AYalter John Blundell, Frederick Yeates, Joseph William Carr, George Brown, James Thomas Hunter, Walter Fair Larlcin, Jay Porter, Charles C. Larmour, Herbert Spencer Loan, James Smith M'Arthur, and Charles Edward Clifford. His Honour's Address. In his address to the Grand Jury, His Honour said there did not appear to lie anything special in the list of cases. It ivas satisfactory to find that there was 110 increase of crime, but that on the whole the amount of criminality in so large a community was not such as could disturb the feelings of anyone. Unfortunately there were several cases of a' sexual nature. Of these, only ~one was against a young girl, but the others were of a very objectionable character. His Honour then proceeded to refer in detail to the various caso». Grand Jury's Findings. I'me bills were returned in the following instances Frederick George Smith, alias John Burberry, alleged theft from the Hotel Arcadia; Henry Francis M'Llroy, alleged theft 1 from the person; Margaret Dohson, alleged assault causing actual bodily harm; Frederick George' Thurston, alleged assault causing actual bodily harm; Patrick Mayo, alleged burglary"; Joseph Kenny, alleged obscene language; Robert Stockbridge aiid William Stockbridge, alleged breaking and entering and theft; Robert Stockbridge, alleged theft; Fredk. W. Browne, alleged false pretences; William Garner and Thomas Jackson Smith, alleged attempted theft from a dwelling; Andrew Julius Finlay, alleged indecent assault on a male, and attempted unnatural offence ; _ Fortunatus Evelyn Wright, alleged indecent assault on a male; and John William Scatcliard, alleged indecent assault. No bill was returned in the case in which Frederick George Smith, alias George John Burborry, was ■ charged . with stealing a cheque from a shop in Courtenay Place. Verdict of Not Guilty. The first trial proceeded: with was that in'which Fredk. George Smith, alias George John Burberry, was! charged with:—(l) Stealing, 011 September 0 last, a silver watch, valued at Bs. 6d., the property of Frank Plumpton, and a muff and work-basket, valued at £3 10s., the property of Edith Plumpton, from tile Hotel Arcadia; (2) stealing a silver thimble, valued at 10s. 6d., the property of Alicia Hughes, 011 the same day from the same' hotel.:. Mr. D. S. Smith (assigned by the Crown) appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. " TJjie evidence for-the prosecution was to the effect that Smith was found in a loom in the Hotel Arcadia, while some of the missing articles were in his possession, and some of them on the bed in the room. For the defence, it was contended that the prisoner was drunk when he took the articles. Ho came to Wellington to join the Expeditionary Force, but fell into bad company, .which led to drink. After considering the case for a brief period, the jury returned a verdict that the prisoner was not guilty of any criminal intent. His Honour interpreted this as a verdict of not guilty, and directed that the prisoner should bo discharged. A Man With a Record. ( A street hawker, named Henry Francis M'llroy, was charged with' stealing £4 from the person of John Edwards. Ho pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. H. F. O'Leary. The evidence called for- the prosecution established, the fact that M'llroy had taken the notes from the pocket of Edwards while the two wero discussing a, deal ill horseflesh near the Hotel Cecil. After a retirement of half an hour the jury returned with a verdict, of guilty, and the prisoner, who had previous convictions both in tlio Dominion and in Australia, was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. The Court then adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning. MAGISTRATE'S COURT SMALL POLICE LIST. The Magistrate's Court was presided < over by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday. Peter Peters and Harry Osterberg wqro cacli fined 10s., in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness, and five first offenders ! wore dealt with in the ordinary way. ; Arrears in a maintenance, order amounting to £18, in respect to hor 1 child, were reduced to £10 in the case ! of Bertha Lillian Samson, and defend- 1 ant was ordered to pay the arrears off i at the rate of ss. per week. , George Henry Bradley, who did not i appear, was sentenced to five days' im- 1 prisonment, for disobeying a m'ainten- 1 anco order in favour of his wife, the < warrant to be suspended if the amount 1 of arrears, £5 ss. is paid before No- 1 veinbor 15. , John Bonasich was sentenced to im- I prisonment for three days, for failing 1 to comply to the terms of a maintenance order, the issue of the. warrant to bo suspended till November 15. Mary Ann Montgomery was granted j a. summary separation from her- hus- ' band, Thomas Montgomery, who was \ ordered to pay maintenance at tlio i rato of £1 per week, and £1 Is. solicitor's fee. 1 George Scurr was ordered to pay 6s. , per week towards tlio maintenance of a aliild, aiid £12 12s. for confinement ) expenses,_ with £2 2s. past mainten- 1 aucc, and £1 Is. solicitor's feo. J .THE STAMP CASE J ACCUSED ACQUITTED. • By Telogrlßh.—Press Association. t Ounedin, November 8. J.ll the Supreme Court to-day William Lawrence Hooper was acquitted 011 a v diarge of receiving revenue ofiicial " stamps valued at £40, knowing them to f iiavo been dishonestly obtained. <: