CRIMINAL TRIALS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1913, Page 7

CRIMINAL TRIALS

SUPREME COURT SESSIONS OFFENDERS FEWER : PROBABLE REASON, The criminal cession of the Supreme Court opened before his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman this morning, Mr P. S. K. Macaasoy appeared as Crown Prose* cutor. GRAND JURY. The following comprised the Grand Jury :-— Messrs. Chas. John Hill (foreman), Arthur Lejgh Hunt, Wffl. Edward Fuller, Jas. Cable, Geo. Winder, John Bevondge, Godfrey Thorne-Georgo, Wm. Kerr, Alexr. Newton, Jas. Wm. Brown, I? tank Knibbs, Thos. Vernon Venables, Daniel B. Carrick, Jas. Wilson Wallace, Jas. Clark, Herbert Wm. Preston, Henry Percy 3?. Blandell, Geo. A. Hurley,- Herbert Allen Kirkcaldie, John Castle, Win. Alfred Chote. HIS HONOUR'S CHARGE. His Honour, _ in his charge to the Orand Jui'y, said; "Your duties on this accasion will not be very onerous. The number of cases is not large, and none of them presents any complications that Heed trouble you ; in fact, they are all cases of a very simple character so far as the preliminary investigation is concerned. It is noteworthy that comparing this calendar with the calendar of a few years back the number of bills has undoubtedly diminished very considerably. What- the cause of this diminution is ma,y be a matter for research, but 1 daresay it is right to attribute a con* eiderablo proportion of the reduction to the operation of the laws now in force respecting habitual criminals and reformative treatment." Men were now receiving shorter sentences, both _ here and in England, than in former times; but in this case the law < regarding habitual criminals resulted in long sentences in some cases. This had had the effect of convincing a. certain number of persons that a criminal career was not a very profitable business. "I do not know, said hi% Honour, "whether they clear out to other parts of the world or whether they settle down to more honest lives, but the number of trials here is diminishing^ lam under the impression that some time ago we w«re receiving an undue proportion of criminals from the other side, owing perhaps " to the more severe laws in neighbouring States ; but I do not think that is so now, and the Courts are dealing permanently with a smaller number of criminals than formerly." Proceeding to deal with the list his Honour said that there were ten cases involving a larger number of persons. There were three sexual cases. One case of an extraordinary kind was that involving a charge of destroying a dwelling-house with an explosive. No motive was disclosed in the evidence; but that was not necessary in order that the Grand Jury might find that a prima facie case had been made out. The prisoner had been seen near the house with a trap, and afterwards moving the horse to a place of safety, just before the explosion occurred. TRUE BILLS. I The jury found true bills in the following cases: — John Rukeard Kiletone, indecent assault; John George Norris, assault; Albert John tfdy, wilfully destroying a dwelling house; William Hammington, alias Hill, indecent assault.