CRIMINAL CASES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 15

CRIMINAL CASES

The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) i presided at the Supreme Court yesterday, and continued tho hearing of criminal cases. Edward Alfred Foreman was placed in the dock to answer farther charges of breaking, entering, and theft of jewellery, to all of which ho pleaded guilty. Tho charge of indecent assault on a male, on which tho jury disagreed at tho last criminal sessions was withdrawn by tho Crown, and at tho request of Mr. H. F. O'Lcary, Foreman was remanded till to-morrow for sentence. INDECENT ASSAULT. Thomas M'Namara was charged that on Juno 15 he did attempt to commit a criminal offence on a male. Mr. P. S. K. Macasscy, of tho Crown Law Office, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for tho accused. Mr. P. S. Guthrio was foreman of tho jury. Tho caso was hoard in camera. After a retirement of about half an hour the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and tho prisoner was romanded to Thursday for sentence. A RANGER ASSAULTED. Richard White was charged that on September 26, at Nainai, near Lower Hutt, ho assaulted and caused actual bodily harm, to Robert Charles Dick, j and pleaded not guilty. I Mr. P. S. K. Macassey prosecuted,

and Mr. M. Myers appeared for the accused.

Tho facts of the caso were that on September 26 Dick, who is : tho Hutt County ranger, soon after 10 p.m., sawtwo horses wandering on Cemetery Road. When he came up to them ho whistled, and two men in a houso nearby camo out. Olio of the men identified one of the horses, and paid a shilling for its release. Tho other horse went up another street, and Dick said ho would go after it. White, who in tho meanwhilo had joined tho party, said he would- go, and went away. Whito was on foot. Dick then mounted Tils horse, and followed. When he caught up to White, tho latter said to him: "You let that horse alone." Dick replied that tho horse had been in his charge lor half an hour, and he must secure it. After some altercation, White, it was alleged, threw a stone, and struck Dick on the head and knocked him over. Dick was badly hurt, and was attended by Dr. Hector. Evidence in support of counsel's opening statement was given by tho plaintiff in the case. Dr. Hector, who attended Dick, described the injuries received by the latter. > Three other witnesses were called for the prosecution. For the def enco, Mr. Myers maintained that it was a case of mistaken identity. Tho night was dark, and it was easy enough to mistake the identity of individuals. Dr. Fyffo was the only witness called for the defence when the Court adjourned unFil this morning, when two or three more witnesses will be called.