TARANAKI SUPREME COURT.

Patea Mail, 10 May 1881, Page 3

TARANAKI SUPREME COURT.

The criminal sittings of the above court opened at New Plymouth on Friday, when Mr Justice Richmond, in addressing the Grand Jury, expressed pleasure that there wore no henious offences in the calendar, the offences being wholly against property and none against persons. He thought Christmas festivities had much to do with the charges brought forward. Referring to the old population of Taranaki, he said there is no doubt that whatever might have been their failings, picking and stealing was not one of them ; they had learnt their catechism, and kept their hands from stealing. These crimes come to us from the increase of population. Referring to the serious charges of embezzlement, Mr Richmond said—You will find there are five indictments preferred against the same person, these charges being a series of cases of embezzlement. The law is such that the prosecution can only charge three cases of the same kind in a single indictment. Now, the embezzlement has been spread over a long’ period of time ? and it is very important to have the whole brought before you at once ; for often the jury cannot judge whether the offences are real or whether they are mistakes in bookkeeping. There is a numerous list of exhibits, some of which you may not require. The exhibits have been very badly arranged. The case has evidently been a little too much for the clerk at Carlyle, as the papers come up here in considerable confusion. The cases consist of alleged embezzlement out of a fund called the deferred payment fund for the West Coast Land District, and the total amount embezzled is considerable—between £4OO and £SOO. The list (a 9), which will be produced to you, contains a reference in pencil to the documents which you will chiefly require while investigating the charges. The cases are much the same, and when you have once mastered one case the others will be very easy. Of course you have not to try the cases, but just to find whether the cases are primd facie against the prisoner. The cases decided on Friday were William Cunningham, for stealing a gold chain from a brewer at Hawera, found guilty, and sentenced to eighteen months’ hard labor, James Smith, for forging J. S. Caverhill’s name to a cheque, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. John Willis, charged with stealing a chestnut mare at Akuhatu, was aquitted. The Grand Jury found a true bill against Wilkinson, charged wiih embezzling money from the Government at Hawera.

On Saturday Earnest 0. Wilkinson was arraigned upon an indictment for that he did feloniously embezzle certain sums of money, viz., £2os 16s, and £4B 19s Id of the deferred payment fund of the West Coast Land District. The prisoner pleaded “ Not guilty.” Mr Hughes appeared for the Crown, and Mr Samuel for the defence. The case occupied till nine o’clock at night, at which time the jury retired. At twelve o’clock, there being no likelihood of an agreement, the jury were dismissed. The charges were made before a fresh jury yesterday.