SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1932, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

BUSINESS 'AT WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association— Copyright.) WELLINGTON, July 25. Fourteen indictments: involving nineteen persons, came before the Grand Jury to-day, Justice. Reed remarking on the increase of breaking and entering charges, and he also stated that cases of negligent driving, causing death, were becoming all too common. No bill was returned in the case of John -Richards, charged with discharging a firearm with intent to do grt.ey--. on- bodilythann. After a short trial, the jury fuuutii Geo : not -ui v ef; the charge of thcllVof watches during the riot in the c'ity. TWO SERIOUS CHARGES. . PALMERSTON NORTH, July 26.

The Supreme Court has opened, Mr Justice .Ostler presiding. There is a light calendar to be dealt with.

The judge, in his address to tin Grand Jury . said there was'only one charge for -their consideration, against Charles, Frederick Ammon, of alleged assault and causing actual bodily harm to a storekeeper at Terrace End. The judge added that one other cas was to be dealt with, involving a., ch.argy of murder against John Dillon Corrigan but a true bill had been returned in •th'ik case at the last session of court.

The Grand Jury returned a "true bill in the Ammon case.

GRAVE -EfST AT AUCKLAND. COMMENT, BY JUSTICE HERDMAN. AUCKLAND, July 26; The quarterly criminal sessions opened this morning before Justices' Herdman and Smith. The former commented to ithe Orand Jury on the size a,.- • gravity of the list of cases which includes charges of murder, administering fKiison ■ to a child, (negligent . driving causing.'death (foui - ), and robbery will violence. . ' M - ; The judge said that the presence oi negligent’driving charges in the calendar conveys the impression that some drivers still show a reckless disregard for the -safety of their fellow citizens, Commenting on the charge of murder against a Maori Boy of sixteen, who, it is alleged, kil ed an old man in Whangafeb district by hitting him on ■the head Avith an-axe, his Honour sai< that the lad was alleged to have admitted the offence to the pohee.

MOTOR DRIVER ACQUITTED. DUNEDIN, July 26. In the 'Supreme Court, James Ure Wallace was acquitted of a charge -of negligently driving .a motor, causing the death of boy-nafned Whit'oh: iCHARGE OF MURDERING PARENTS ACCUSED MAN FOUND INSANE. PALMERSTON NORTH, July 26. Found by a specially empanelled jury to ,be so insaug that he could not plead to an 'indictment, John Dillon Corrigan, aged 'twenty-three charged with murder of his parents, John, and Ellen Corrigan, at Mangamahoe, near Elketahuna, “on March 28th, was, in the 'Supreme Court, ordered by Justice Ostler to be detained" in Porirua Mental Hospital during the pleasure of the Minister oi Justice.

Jt seems to me to be clear from the evidence I have read, and the depositions, that there is question here which ought to be determined,” .said . th; Judge. “I will assume, : for' that; pur-po-e, that acevsed did jki 1 his .-father cud mother. The evidence is'that, accused was apparently insane at the time and did not Imow the nature and quality of his act. If he is still -so insane, it seems to be clear that he cannot p’ead, and if he is still found to be -suffering from the same delusions, I think the proper course is to empane the jury- todecide whether he is sane .or insane.”;

The jury was empanelled under the Mental Defectives -Act. Medical evidence. by Doctor Blair, assistant' 'Superintendent at 'Porirua-, and Dr. Hoskins, of Mas ter ton, was heard ' and a report was submitted by Dr. Williams Superintendent of Porirua.

The jury after a retirement of nine minutes found accused so insane that iiiec could not plead.