SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1927, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

(uv TELEORArH—PKB THESS ASSOCIATION. TI.MARU, May 3. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened to-day before Justice Adams. Addressing the grand jury lits Honour said he regretted that, there was a greater number of eases than was usual in Timaru. and many were unhappily sexual cases concerning young children. It was deplorable thatsuch cases were increasing. In addi- , tion there was a case against two merchants for failing to keep proper books and another under the Chattels Security Act. The Grand Jury returned true bills in all cases except in the case of William li. Todd. DUNEDIN, May 3. The criminal sittings opened this morning. Justice Reed addressing the Grand Jury said six persons were accused of crime. A man was charged with manslaughter or alternatively with driving a motor-car negligently, causing the death of a man. This was one of the usual motor-car eases, oT which unfortunately there were so many. 'The defence suggested the man knocked down dodged about in front of the car and it was his own fault that he was killed. The driver of the car had no right to put a person in- such a position, that a person had to rapidly make up his mind to avoid being knocked down. The other serious case was one of carnal knowledge against a youth and a charge of abduction against a young man, the girl being under eighteen. LONG CRMr.IfNAU LIST. AUCKLAND, May 3. Justice Stringer in his charge to the Grand .fury at the Supreme Court criminal sessions said he was sorry to say there was a deplorable long list and a deplorable number of sexual cases. There certainly seemed a terrible lack of control of youngsters of 15 years or thereabouts, who are allowed to wander about the streets, picking up with young men. The tendency towards juvenile criminality was a grievous state of affairs. There were also charges of robbery with violence, arson and bookmaking.