SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1920, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

ABDUCTION. AUCKLAND, May 19. warning to Maoris was issued by Mr Justice Chapman in the Supreme Court to-day, when a young Maori named Iwi Holiaea entered a plea of guilty to a charge of abducting from her home a Maori under the age of 16 years. Counsel for accused stated that, the ,girl's departure from her home was ail ordinary ease of a Maori hoy running away with a Maori girl. Even the police were in some doubt as to the girl’s age at the time, and it was agreed that she was now over the ago of 16, at which it was not unusual for Maori girls to he married.

Addressing prisoner, his Honour said: “j am going to give consideration to your good character and the fact that vou have served your country, but I cannot allow this offence to pass without punishment. You will receive a. short sentence of imprisonment. The object of this is to let all Maoris know that this thing cannot bo done. If » man comes before tlie Court for doing w hat you have done, taking a young irirl away from her parents, he comes for punishment. The next man who does so will get' a more severe punishment than you. You will ho sentenced to three months’ hard labour.”

AUCKLAND CRIMINAL SESSIONS. AUCKLAND. May 18 The Grand Jury concluded its duties at the Sunremc. Court to-day, in K true bills in ail save one of the 34 cases put before it. The exception was

tlio charge of murder against Alfred Thomas Percy Victor Dare, in connex- 1 ion with the motor fatality at Penrose on January 26th. A true bill was returned, on the alternative charge of manslaughter. The Grand, Jury suggested that, .in vie\v of the large number of offences of a sexual-nature against young children, his Honour should take into consideration the' advisability of sentencing offenders to the lash. A young women, Hilda. Holder, who was tried some time,ago oil, a charge of manslaughter at Whangarei, following the death of her newly-born infant, appeared for sentence. The finding of the jury which tried the girl was the subject of recent Appeal Court decisions to determine the effect of the verdict. The jury stated that the child’s 'death was caused by the mother, when she was' not in a-mental condition to realise tho effect of her act. The Court of Appeal i decided that this was a verdict of man-I slaughter, because there was no finding | that the accused did not know the nature and quality of her act. His Honour, after questioning accused’s brother, told the girl that he was convinced that her act was not deliberate, but was due' to the state of distress in which she was at the time. He ordered her to come up for sentence when called upon, providded she went to live with her q cottier.