SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 203, 16 May 1918, Page 8

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

INDECENT ASSAULT CASES

Tlio criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were continued yesterday. Hie Honour Mr. Justice Edwards being ou tlie bench.

Edward Williamson, charged with indrcenMy assaulting two mules at Woodyille on March 27 last, was again placed in the dock. The hearing of evidence concluded on the previous evening. Mr. V. \V. Jaclcsou, counsel for the defence, addressed the jury. Mr. V. S. Iv. Macassi'.v appeared for the Crown.

The jury, after a retirement of about six.hours, were unable to agree* and were discharged. The prisoner will be tried again 10-dav.

Alan Talberl, a small shopkeeper in Taraimki Street, was charged with indecent assault on a male.

Mr. ■¥. S. K. Macassey, of the Croirn Law Office, appeared for the Crown. The prisoner conducted his own defence.

Mr. Arthur Smith was foreman of the jury. The court was cleared during ihc hearing of the case.

The jury, after a short retirement brought in a verdict of guilty, and sentence was deferred.

DAISY I'ABMER IN COUET. George James Mitchell, dairy farmer, Silverstream, was placed in the dock to n'nswcr three charges of obtaining goods from Booth, Maedonald and Co., Ltd., of Masterton, Burch and Co., produce merchants, Wellington, and Radford and Co., Wellington, by means of false prolances.

Mr. P. S. IC. Macassey appea/ed for the Crown, and Mr. H. F. O'Lean for the, accused,

Mr. Sydney James Maguire was foreman of the jury. llr. Macassey, in outlining tho case, said that in the month of October, 1016. Booth, Macdonaid and Co., Ltd., of Masterton, received a letter from a person signing himself G. S. Mitchell, orderinu a pump and piping, which 'were forwarded io the address given. At about the same time Eadfqrd and Co., furniture dealers, received a letter purporting to have been sent by G. S. Mitchell, ordering a tank, which was sent, and Burch and Co., produce merchants, Courtenay Place, also received a letter signed G. S. Mitchell, ordering chaff, oats, and bran. Such a person as G. S. Mitchell couid not l>6 found. When Detective-Sergeant Rarrlo interviewed the accused, ho explained that he had met a man who gave his name as G. S. Mitchell at the Silvereiream railway station. This Mitohell had an injury to his hand, and being unable to write, the defendant said he wrote the letter to the three firms named, on uaper and ink supplied by tho stranger. The letters were submitted to Mr. Dinnie, finger-print expert, and hie evidence would go to show that five of thn letters wore written by tho accused, and that three others were in the handwriting of a person at present unknown.

Harold Vincent Falk, clerk to Booth, Macdonaid and Co., Ltd., Masterton. Arthur Edward Burch, of Burch and Co., William Charles M'Danald. assistant at Eadford and Co.'s, William Pattern, cjerk of tho court at Hutt and Petone, and Kenneth Geange, carrier, Upper Hutt, gave evidence similar to that tendered in the Lower Court.

Kenneth Wiggins, of W. Wiggins and Co., Ltd., gave evidence as to the firm reraving on January 13, 1!)1S, an order for goods from a G. is. Mitchell.

Caroline Maun, employed by Gadsby Bros., said she Knew the accused, who was an oid customer of tho firm. Accused had bought and paid for meat, which, was sent by tho firm to Mrs. G. S. Mitcheii. jJiyerriew House, which was in a different direction from where tlie accused lived. The parcels of meat so ordered were sent by-tbe firm to the address given, and delivery was always taken.

Thomas . Sheil, plumber, Lower Hntt, said that about the- second week in January accused asked him if he could disposs of h pump and piping which accused said were on his property, nnd were of no iiso to him. Witness did not take possession of tho goods, because it was inconvenient to do so, and he never saw Hie pump or tlie piping.

Detective-Sergeant Kawle rcad the statement mude by the- accused when interviewed by tho police. Walter Dinnio, handwriting expert, repeated the ovidence given, by him in the Lower Court.

For the defence, Mr. O'Leary briefly addressed the jury, ,and said that he would cull the accused and one other witness, aud in spite of what tho jury hau heard, it would bo proved that there was an individual G. S. Mitchell.

The accused, in giving evidenqo, said he was 03 years of age, and had fived on his farm for the past twenty-three years. Ho was born at Slilcheiltown, Wellington. He met G. S. Mitchell first In 1015 at the Hutt railway station, ne giivo his name as George S. Mitchell, and claimed to be a cousin of the accused. He believed the man, as he had a largo number of relatives, and did not know half of them. The man looked about 60 years of age. Witness epoke to 6. S. Mitchell several times afterwards. The man said he had a farm at Havera, and was going to buy a farm in the Silv&rstreain district. Witness took G. S. Mitchell to seo Welch's property at Taita. Tho man also saw two other properties. He remembered, being at the Silrerstreaiu railway station with G. S. Mitchell. At the Litter's request ho wrote to Bnolh, Macdonald and Co. Hβ also'wroto the lulter to Jiadford and Co. at the same time. The man kd witness to believe that ho hud secured a place at the Taita. Jt was customary' for hie place to be used as a dumping-ground for goods addressed to the fanners in. tho neighbouihood. He had an artesian well, tanks, and a stream,'and the pump fixings from Booth, Macdonald and Co. were of no use to him. Hβ admitted writing the letter to Biireh and Co., and that letter" was also written for G. S.Mitchell. He met Mrs. G. S. Mitchell several times, and handed her correspondence nthlressed to her husband, lie had often bought meat at Gadsby's for Mrs. G. S. Mitchell. The meat it us sent to Rivervievr House, whoshe called and- took delivery. He cVnicd the statements made by Shell. He told the latter that he had a pump and piping belonging to Booth, Macdonald and Co. at hi.? place, and that he could probably get it at his own price. At this stage the Court adjourned until this luuraing.