SUPREME COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 889, 12 May 1903, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

A JUDGE’S REMARKS,

J3y Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night. . The criminal sessions opened this mornJ ing The calendar was particularly long, J and includes three charges of incest, eight , of indecent assault, one of attempted rape, three of robbery with violence, one of 5 arson, one of criminal libel—altogether 26 1 charges against 17 persons, and six against persons who had previously pleaded guilty. Li charging the grand .jury tho Judge said the large list of sexual offences did nut, in his opinion, necessarily imply any special immorality in tho district as compared with others. Tho jury must consider it with reference to the average amount of crime of that class, as to which that district would compare not unfavorably with the other main districts of tho colony within recent years. Also, the ago I of consent had been raised to JO years. It was c, common experience that girls just under that ago ware particularly sus ceptinlo to sexual acts, and wore frequently tiie temptu-sses. A recent- change in the lav it ; tj incest necessarily swelled the list of sexual crimes in th-- colony as against other eountrits. His Honor also referred to the hardship that decent women and young children, in addition to an indecent outrage, wore compelled to state the- details in full before a gallery of cheering youth who were there lor tho puroosn of enjoying them.

The following persons who previously pleaded guilty received sentence :■—H, F. Smith, breaking, entering, and theft, Weimute, two years; H. Lindhurst, a similar charge, six months’ probation ; J. Brown, attempted breaking and entering, Christchurch, three months ; D. Gurdlcr, attempted rape, two years ; F. Crabbe, theft, three years ; F. Minnis, incest, Timaru, six months.

The Judge remarked that it was unfortunate that there was no institution to deal with men of weak intellect with a tendency to commit offences on little ebildron. When sentencing tho man for incest, tho Judge said ho confessed the accused person was often tho one who was least guilty in the matter. Children were frequently brought up pigged together in places under circumstances making decency impossible, therefore the usual restraints were removed. Later.— At the Supremo Court, Alexander Findlay, charged with escape fratu lawful custody, was remanded to next sessions at Timaru, where ho will have to answer to another charge. Henry Francis Smith, for breaking and entering,[was sentenced to two years’. Harry Jjyndliurst, for a similar alienee, was admitted to probation for six months. Jobn Brown, for breaking and entering at Christchurch, was sentenced to three mouths’ imprisonment. David Gurdlon, for attempted criminal assault, was sentenced to two years ; Fredk. Crabb, theft, three years ; Francis Meritiis, incest, six months. George Johnson was found guilty of assaulting and robbing David Burke on March 1. His Honor sentenced accused to 12 months’ imprisonment.

Frank Giles Hompleman, book-keeper at Kaiapoi brewery, was convicted on three charges of embezzlement, totalling about U2OO, extending from tho year 1900.

Mr Russell, for the dofence, asked for probation. His Honor said that it would be a serious misfortune if it were to be understood that a man in a position of trust could go on using his employer’s money, trusting that he would be able to replace it and that the only penalty would bo pro bation. It would bo a dangerous abuse of an Act designed to be employed in other circumstances. Accused was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment on each charge, to run concurrent.

James Gill and James Smith were charged with breaking into tho Alford Forest Hotel 'and stealing liquor. Gill was found guilty of stealing only, and Smith was found uot guilty. Gill was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. Edward Lawson, a boy, pleaded guilty to indecent assault, and was ordered to bo imprisoned for a week and receive 12 stroke's Of tho rod.

Percy Codling, for horse stealing, was sentenced to six months. Napier, last night. At tho Supremo Court to-day Em est Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen a gold watch, chain, and two gold medals, and was admitted to ono year’s probation. Piripi Hukanui and Ramatiki Pinoaha wore found guilty of sheep stealing, and remanded till Wednesday for sontonco. Piripi Hukanui was also charged in conjunction with Atu Enia and Ilakopa with sheep stealing, a verdict of guilty being returned. The prisoners were remanded for sentence.