CRIMINAL CASES
SESSION OPENS JUDGE’S ADDRESS TO THE GRAND JURY. Tho criminal session of the Supreme Court in Wellington was opened yesterday. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout; was on the Bench, and the Crown was represented by Mr P. S. K. Mucassey. THE GRAND JURY - .
Cecil 0 " Kellow, J D. M. Mclntyre. George Ross, William Henry Rose, Ernest Edward Stoneoanks Percy Blundell, Alfred Wallace, Arthur Robertson Perston, -Harold, Victor Caverhill, Albert Cceagh O Connor Thomas Garter, Robert Newton King bwanston, Vrtnur Ncwbolu, Robert Hugh Nicho , Edward Bolton Bristow, Thomas CosCharles Hamilton Hawson, and William Henry Fulton. HIS HONOUR’S ADDRESS. •Addressing tho Grand Jury, His Honour said that there were no less than twenty persons to bo presented tor crime. There was one charge of attempted murder and one of threatening to kill. These were two serious cases. There wore eight sexual cases out of twenty, and the others were cases of theft. Tho hrst case was oho of threatening to kill, and there went some peculiar features connected with it. 'Pile charge was of sending letters to a fellow-worker, threatening to kill him. To begin with, there was the evidence that the letters »< the hand-writing of the accused. Tli<> writing bore certain peculiarities. There was also tho fact that the letters were written on tho paper of the firm where the parties were employed. Anotaei thing was that one of the letters was not sent by post, but left at tno office. AVho lett it tnero? At must have been some person employed there. Also there was the evidence that nitric acid had been found in chocolates sent to the person on whoso life an attempt was said to have been made. Cases of thclt, assault, and cases of a sexual nature followed on tho list. •TRUE BILLS.
The Grand Jury returned true bills In tile following cases : Joseph Hill, Alice Scoble, and Jean Collyus, conspiracy to procure abortion.
William Albeit Murray, theft
William Henry Aspmall, asaamt,
Arthur James lord and Thomas Evans, theft.
Michael Falvey, obscene language. John James Joseph Lee, attempted murder.
Percy Cashmau, - assault causing bodily harm.
Richard William Martin, threatening to kill.
James Jackson, bigamy
Lawrence John Maloney, breaking and entering and theft. William Bannerman Rogers, indecent assault on a female under ten years of ago.
Henry Arthur Grant, indecent assault.
Reginald Joseph Devonshire, theft. Kristian Henry Jensen, assault, causing actual bodily harm. James Arthur Pollard, breaking, entering, and theft.
Charles Edward Rossiier Ruddicfc, theft of a motor-car. NO BILL. In the' case of Charles Deobles, indecent assault, the Grand Jury returned “No bill.’’ y OBSCENE LANGUAGE.
The first case heard was that of Michael Falvoy, who was accused of Having used obscene language. Mr Macassey said ahat Constable O’Connor met accused in Post Office square one day, and asked him if he had got work yet. This was in view of certain court proceedings, which were then fresh. The accused answered by using obscene language in a loud voice while two crowded tramcars were there. His Honour said that it did not matter if cars were present or not; if a man chose to use foul language in a public place, he was liable to prosecution.
Tho accused did not make any statement to the court.
After a brief retirement, tho jury returned a verdict of guilty against tho accused, but recommended that in future cases of tho kind tho police should obtain independent evidence. His Honour said that tho jury mignt not quite understand the position when they made that recommendation. Now that a decision had been arrived at, ho could mention that prisoner had been before the court previously and had been advised by the magistrate to get wonc. Tho constable had done nothing wrong in asking accused if ho had obtained employment. Tho host thing to do would be to send accused to Invercargill for twelve months’ lefonnativo treatment, and that would be the sentence. ASSAULT ON A GIRL.
William Henry Aspinall appeared on four charges of having assaulted a young girl. Ho was represented by Mr R. Kennedy. The court was cleared for the hearing. Tho jury returned a verdict of guilty on each dm roe. ,n lu ] sentence was posted tiß fctarday.
SITTINGS ELSEWHERE
LIGHT CALENDAR AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 12. The Supreme Court sessions opened before Mr Justice Hosking, who congratulated tho Grand Jury on tho lightness of tho calendar There was only ono case of indecent assault, that by an elderly man at Mokan, in respect to two little girls. Tho Grand Jury returned a true, bill in the case. A native named Huia Kai Thompson, who pleaded guilty in the lower court to obtaining money and goods at Hawera by passing valueless cheques, was admitted to three years’ probation, and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecuturn and repay tho moneys obtained at tbo rnto of £2 10s per month. Wo
order was made in,respect to £321 obtained by cheques cashed on an hotel all on one day. . ■ , A re-trial was ordered m the case ot Albert Charles Ogilvie, who appeared on several charges of- stealing cattle in or about Hawera in May last. The jury disagreed last session. CASES AT CHRISTCHURCH. Pres* -Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. At the Supremo Court to-day Arthur Stace was admitted to probation tor twelve months on a charge of forgery, also Hike Puano Rikena, on a similar charge. Alma Quintal was found guilty of the theft of £39 4s in cash, sentence being deterred tall to-morrow George Baden Powell Burgess was found guilty of the theft of a motorcar, and was admitted to probation fo> twelve months. William Hoft was sentenced to twelve months’ reformatory treatment for the theft of a horse, saddle, and bridle.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 6
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960CRIMINAL CASES New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 6
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