WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 August 1901, Page 4

WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

(per press association.)

Wellington This Day. The Criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were opened this morning. The Chief Justice in his address said that the cases on the calendar, with those in which persons accused had pleaded guilty, showed no dimination of crime in the district.

Referring to the case of a Chinaman charged with indecent assault on a girl, ho had subsequently married, his Honor said the police had obtained evidence that the girl was over seventeen, and if this was established there was no offence. As to a charge against Robert Douglas arraigned for murder on his own confession, the whole of the circumstances apart from the confession itself pointed against the accused. The fact that the confession had been made was enough for the Grand Jury, but whether it was sufficient for a Common Jury, it was for that jury to consider.

The judge also commented upon the frequency of cases of breaking and entering in this and other districts. The Jury returned true bills on all indictments except in the charge against Fong Lee of indecent assault. Andrew Fraser was found not guilty of horse stealing. George Howe a Chinese was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for keeping a disorderly house.