WESTLAND SUPREME COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 September 1901, Page 2

WESTLAND SUPREME COURT.

Friday Sept 27. (Before His Honour Mr Justice Denniston. CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY. Hirf Honour in his charge to the Grand Jury said it was again his pleasing duty to congratulate them on the absence of crime noticeable from the charge sheet before him which was one of the lightest during the last twelve years. There were only two indictments to come before them and they would not bo called serious. The first was a charge against a Maori of stealing with tfolence, and the evidence would show that the prosecutor was an old man and the accused was drunk when the offence was committed. There was a fracas to start with and independant evidence would be led to show the nature of the offence committed. The prisoner was charged on three counts and if a true bill was found the grand jury could leave it to common jury to deal with the separate indictments. The second charge was one of concealment of birth, and this was a serious offence. The case was a simple one as there was no doubt there was a birth. A woman was delivered of a child and the child was buried, and the only object in so doing was to conceal the birth. The question whether the (child died before) during, or

* — 1 _ ■after birth had nothing to do with the charge. All the jury was concerned with was the fact of concealment. They would retire and consider the charge. BOBBKRT WITH VTOLHNCE. Laurie George was charged with having, on July 13tb, 1901, robbed Wm. Pincham of £1 and with having violently .assaulted him. Mr Beare appeared for the prisoner and Mr Park, Crown Solicitor, prosecuted. After, a good deal of evidence had bqen taken the jury returned a verdict „of not guilty on the first and second counts, and on the third count guilty of comnlon’assault. His Honour sentenced the prisoner to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. ' CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH. Elizabeth Grossi and Rosin a Grossi were charged with concealment of birth. Mr Joyce represented the accused. His Honor, addressing the Jury, said the charge was for an attempt to conceal the fact that the mother was delivered of a child. That was the sole issue and rendered the case a very simple one, notwithstanding the extraneous matter that had been imported into it. A great deal had been said about how the Police had conducted the case, but this question had nothing to do with the case. He did not consider the Police had exceeded their duty in any way in their conduct of the case. It could not be denied that the two accused had disposed of the body of the child, and that being so the only question to be decided was there any intent to conceal the fact. His Honour pointed out at length the importance of-, preventing the concealment of birth and the dangers attending such a practice.

After a good deal of evidence had been taken Mr Joyce, addressing the Jury, stated that the whole of ihe evidence went to negative the charge that there was any attempt whatever at concealment of birth. When the Police made enquiries both the accused were quite open about the matter, and he thought a lot had been made of a matter that did not deserve the attention given to it. The Jury after twenty minutes consideration, returned a verdict of guilty against both accused with a strong recommendation to mercy in both cases, on account of the elder prisoner’s age, and the younger prisoner’s ignorance. His Honor in passing sentence, said he quite agreed that the jury had found properly a verdict of guilty. He sentenced Elizabeth Grossi to three months imprisonment, and ordered Bosina Grossi to be imprisonment till the rising of the Court. He noted,the Jury’s recommendation to mercy in passing sentence on the elder prisoner, and was also influenced by her letter to the doctor. The younger pri■oner he considered was acting under instructions.