COURT NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1930, Page 6

COURT NEWS.

SEXUAL CHARGES

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 6

A circus employee, Trevor Norman Goote, aged 20 was - acquitted at the Supreme Court of a charge of a serious offence against a girl under the age of 16 years in Wlumgarei. Charged with indecent assault upon a hoy in Auckland on March 20th Richard Stanley Sinclair, a labourer aged 2,7, was found guilty. Sentence was deferred.

WELLINGTON, May 6

Found guilty .in the Supreme Court to-day of charges of indecency, Reginald Carr Rex, a printer, aged 35, was remanded for sentence. Twenty minutes sufficed for the jury to return a verdict of guilty on both counts with a strong recommendation to mercy, owing to the prisoner’s previous good character.

AN UNUSUAL CASE

AUCKLAND; May 6. ' Charges were .preferred at the Supreme Court against Ernest William Armstrong,’ aged 49 an insurance agent, of . breaking, and entering with intent*to : commit a crime, and Df assaulting his son, Leslie Ernest Armstrong.

The allegations were that the accused visited his wife’s home on April 11. on the night after lie had, been separated from her, broke, in through a window, and endeavoured to assault his son with a razor. The hearing is unfinished.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING

AUCKLAND, May 6

' A plea of guilty was entered at lie Supreme Court byGeorge Allen, aged 21, who was charged with negligent driving of a motor car, so as to cause bodily injury to three people. The accident happened•on ■ January 15,. on the Ninety Mile Beach when ■a lorry driven by Alien; ran-into ' the back, of ■; another vehicle v that. had come to. a.sudden stop. -He was fined thirty pounds, and was allowed to retain his license.

MUNN’S CASE

AUCKLAND, May 6

' At' the Supreme Court, the Grand Jury returned true bills in all of the thirteen criminal charges, including the charge of murder- against Arthur Thomas Munn.

RECEIVING STOLEN MONEY

WELLINGTON, May 6

John Charles Turvey, a young man. was charged in the Supreme Court today’with the theft of SO sovereigns from a dwelling, and with receiving £64, knowing it to he dishonestly obtained. He was. acquitted ol theft but was found guilty of receiving and was remanded for sentence.

BREAKING AND ENTERING

WELLINGTON, May 6

The hearing of the case in the Supreme Court against George Frederick Murphy, who was charged with breaking and entering by day, with intent to commit theift and attempted theft from a dwelling, was adjourned until to-morrow. Accused pleaded not guilty No evidence was called on behalf of accused.

AUCKLAND CHARGE'S

AUCKLAND, May o

A record round-up of undesirables was made by the police last night resulting in the-appearance at Court to-day of thirteen women for idle and disorderly charges. Their ages ranged from 30 to '54. One married woman was the mother of nine children. Varying terms of imprisonment up to three months, were imposed and one was sent Pakatoa Island for a year. , »

Major Annie Gordon, female Probation Officer, said that by women, was becoming such a fearful thing that social were taking the matter up seriously. “It is a fearful thing with all these women 'about the streets. Young girls under 16 had been drunk again and again.” The Auckland Social Workers’ Association to-day passed the following resolution:— “That this conference expresses its alarm at the extraordinary amount of drinking amongst young women and girls when accompanied by men on night motor-car drives. The conference feels that the lack of proper parental control is in many instances responsible for this growing evil. We feel that the public do not retalise the enormous daugcis attendant upon this increasing menace in the undermining of citizenship. Charges of stealing a motor-cycle the property of F. Van Renin, and of failing to comply wit h the terms o'l his probation, were preferred agains William Allen Goldsmith, aged 22, and the Dargaville Police Court. Sergeant Capp said Goldsmith was on probation from the Whangarei district. Since he came to this district he had not kept the terms of his probationary license. Witness had endeavoured to help him. Accused had borrowed a motor-cycle to get to Aratapu. He had then gone to Kaihu and offered the cycle for sale to some Maoris for £lO. They could not find the money. Accused had got married and was arrested the same night. Accused was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on each charge, i tjio sentences to run concurrently. J

. ..An. offence alleged, to have been committed against a fifteen year old girl at Haniilton on the morning of April 13, led to a charge, of rape being preferred against Claude James Regan, aged 21, a jockey, of Hamilton, before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., Accused was not represented by counsel. During the evidence the girl fainted. Detective-Sergeant Thompson said accused at Te Rapa on April 22 made a statement admitting the offence. Accused pleaded guilty, and was eommitteed to the Supreme Court for. sentence.

WELLINGTON CASES

WELLINGTON, May 5

The criminal session of the Supreme Court opened to-day before Justice 111 air.

True bill were returned against Reginald Carr, alleged indecent assault and exposure; Patrick James Michael HoflTon. alleged breaking and .entering; William John Byrn, alleged indecent \assault; Norman Eric Walker, alleged theft and receiving; Adam Francis Palmer, alleged receiving; James Burman and Valter Sheriff's Heuneiss, alias Eraser, alleged robbery and violence.