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Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9149, 19 May 1908, Page 2

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Per Press Association. Mjiy 18. The Supreme Ocu?:? sittings ope:ie<i today. ’’q y O3l '‘ na {KJ the Grand Jury, -*oiv<>•.- j _ Ju<^ e Dennisfcon said tr--- / -v ; somewhat more extensive L;cn usua-. There were some nineteen , ciiarges against the same number of persons, while in addition there were three - or four cases which would he dealt with on the basis of confession by the parties charged. Several cases were of a serions nature, fie pointed out to the Grand Jury that it was no part of their duty to decide cases, but only to decide whether the evidence adduced was sufficient to establish a prima facie case * Christchurch. May 18. _ At the Supremo Court John Leslie Brown was charged with striking ins wife. Isabella Brown, with his fist and dashing her to the ground, at Alford Forest Bead near Ashburton. onJanuary3.ru, i-'OB, thereby causing her actual bodily harm ; and, on a further charge of assaulting the said Isabella Brown on tne same date. Accused was acquitted. William Evans was convicted on two charges of breaking and entering and theft, in the Ashburton distirct, and was arraigned on a third charge when the Court adjourned. Ronald Grant Gilbert, for housebreaking, was sent to a reformatory till ha was 21. Frank Sales, for housebreaking, theft and receipt of stolen goods, was discharged. George Burns, charged wuh there ot goods valued at £B4 6s, at the Christchurch fire on February 6th, received sis months imprisonment. Wellington, May 18. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court have opened The Judge in his charge to the Grand Jury, said that while there seemed to be a somewhat larger list than usual it was not unduly large. There were, however, a considerable number of a very objectionable character in the nature of sexual crimes. At the Supreme Court, Samuel Knight, for false pretences at Gisborne and Napier in 1904 was, sentenced to three months imprisonment. Ernest Wehrstedt, for for- - eery, to two years, to be concurrent with the two years term passed for a similar offence last week. Percy Faulkner, for attempted carnal knowledge was remanded for sentence. In his reserved judgment on the case in which Home, instructor in the Technical School, was charged with assaulting a hoy by heating him with a cane, Mr Riddle, S.M., held there was excess of punishxuQiit amounting to assault, but not sufficient to warrant a conviction against defendant. Ho was, however, ordered to pay the costs of prosecu-

tiou, £3 12s. At the Supreme Court to-day, the following prisonerSgWere sentenced Percival Hughes, forgery, 12 mouths; David Brogmas (alias Morrison), assault and robberj 1 -, 18 mouths; George Allen, forgery, to come up for sentence when called on; Samuel Knight (alias Cameron, alias Forbes), false pretences, 3 months ; Ernest Wehrstedt, forgery ,_ two vears; Percy Faulkner, criminal assault on a girl, two years; Mary Sinclair luglis, forgery, to come up for sentence when called upon; David Rowe, breaking and entering, three years. Napier, May 18. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day Clarence Prior Horne was charged with having committed perjury in evidence given by him in tbo Magistrate’s Court in Napier on January 23rd, during the prosecution of Martin Johnston for arson, by stating that Johnston had told him on the night ?after the fire that he had lost a valuable gold watch in the fire. Mr McCarthy, S.M., held that there was not sufficient evidence upon which to commit Horne for trial, and dismissed the information. Auckland, May 18. Addressing the Grand Jury at the opening of the Supreme Court, Judge Edwards remarked upon the small calendar —a little over twenty cases, whereas there had been sometimes as many as 45. He commented upon the four charges of indecent assault, some of them upon quite little children. Of the 2G cases set ’down for trial at the Criminal 1 Sessions which opened to-day, no fewer than nine involved charges of indecent assault upon children, mostly of tender years.' The Grand Jury, after throwing out one case, and returning true bills in the remaining eight, presented a rider viewing with apprehension the large number of cases of this kind, and recommended flogging iu any sentence that might be inflicted. His Honor: “I do not know what to do with these people.” ' Mr Daw (foreman): “It is pitiful to ?see these little children Conrt. ” His Honor: “Absolutely shocking ; do you think flogging wiil stop this offence?” Mr Daw: “If yon give them enough of it.” His Honor: “I dare say yon are right. At all events it can be tried Where they deserve it.” John Chappell, who pleaded guilty to a criminal assault on a girl under the ago of 15. was sentenced to twelve months’ hard labour. Tane Horore Tango and John Baker, two native lads, aged 17 ana 15 respectively. of breaking, entering, and theft at Kaikohe, pleaded their first offence, and applied for probation. His Honor admitted both to probation for one year. Both were ordered to pay :tbe costs of the prosecution. Henry Herbert, a Maori, charged with stealing a portmanteau containing about £l6 worth of clothes from the scow Herald, was found guilty and remanded for sentence. Karl Hellstrom, a Swede, about 26 lyears of age, was found guilty of stealing forks and spoons and two rugs from the steamer Gosford, in Kaipara Harbour, and was also ren anded for sentence.