Wanganui Supreme Court.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 250, 18 September 1884, Page 2

Wanganui Supreme Court.

OHABGE TO THE GRAND JURY.

His Honov addressed the Grand Jury as follows : — Mr Foreman and gentleman of the grand i»»'y. Although the list of cases before you this session is a long: one, I think that the number of names will no** prove as long as the number of cases on the list, as there are several charges - against the same person . Although the Hat is a, long one, T am glad to nay that there is not a single charge of the offences against the

person. The calendar as a whole is tilled with charges of perjury and em» Itezzleraent of, comparatively .speaking, petty depredations on property. There is only one case of considerable pnblic interest, and it is a case m which a great amount is at stake. The charge is, that telegrams have \wen forged for the purpose of obtaining remittances by money telegrams. The pnblic is a good deal interested with chargos of that character.* This, I may say, is the first instance which has come under oar notice of the fraudulent use of telegrams. Tho other charges of forgery are of a petty character, that is, such as we are nnfoitunately familiar with in' Netr Zealand where men hang around about public houses, and fill up false cheques with fancy names, and get them cashed at the bar. They are some of the cases which arise out of the spirit traffic. There are a number of charges -which have been, and properly bo, treated by the magistrates -ah separate charges; and they must be considered as separate charges here. Against one person there are no less than 6 charges of embezzlement preferred, and there are six different points m the. depositions before you. These charges frill | be somewhat more condensed as',presented to you, but there willj believe, appear 1 three 'separate charges. • In. charges of ;embeszle»ient, as you are aware, it is usual to make charges on. one and the same indictment ; the number is unfortunately limited to 3, and consequently there are 3 indictments, m one of which there are three charges, m another two, and m th* third the charge is larceny. ■ The charges substantially constitute one course of alleged embezzlement against one and the same person. I think there is no other cade, gentle* men, at all likely to create any difficulty especially as I know you and the Foreman have become very well able to deal with such business as is before you to-day. - .