“NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY"

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 184, 25 October 1927, Page 1

“NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY"

Auckland Criminal Calendar

SESSIONS OPENED TO-DAY

A Charge of Murder “ WHEN we consider the present list and those of recent * * months, it is apparent that there is no cause for any anxiety,” said Mr. Justice Herdman, in the course of his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the final quarterly criminal sessions this morning.

ALTHOUGH numerically the list does not offer anything formidable,” he said, “some of the cases are’ undoubtedly of a grave character. Nevertheless I can repeat myself when I recall the large territory covered by the Auckland judicial district, and point out, that taking into consideration the size of the boundaries, the

criminal statistics give no cause for anxiety. “The most serious charge,” continued his Honour, “is that against a man named Lendich for murder and concealment of birth. It appears from the depositions that the accused was living with a girl and was in her room when she gave birth to a child. Later that day she left the room, and before her return the baby had disappeared and had never been found. The girl says that the accused told her he had thrown it away, and did not know where he had put it. It is not absolutely necessary to produce the body of the child, and it is not your duty to determine whether lie is guilty, hut simply, whether the evidence justifies in going for trial.” Referring to the charge of manslaughter against Bagby, the jockey, his Honour detailed the facts of the case and pointed out that when a person was driving a motor-car it was his duty to have regard for the safety of the travelling public. “One can say with safety,” said his Honour, “that overspeeding is the cause of most of the motor fatalities in New Zealand. in this case you should have no difficulty in returning a true bill.” The various cases of breaking, entering and theft, indecency and a charge of wounding with intent, were also touched upon by the judge. The grand jury was empanelled as follows: —J. Milne (foreman), H. H. Watkins, J. Zahara, W. Arey, T. Braidwood, H. H. Cooper, G. Court, G. Davis, T. B. D. Esam, J. Fogarty, H. T. Goldie, G. F. Lane, A. Menzies, J. McKinley, D. B. Patterson, S. Somerfieid and E. C. Walton. Pleading guilty to a charge of falsifying a receipt, Charles McKinnon was remanded until Friday for sentence. He was to have stood his trial for theft and furnishing false returns, but his counsel. Mr. G. P. Finlay, altered his plea to one of guilty. The accused was allowed bail of £IOO. “CRIME TOO COMMON” SESSION IN WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, To-day. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court commenced to-day. Mr. Justice MacGregor, who presided, said that he was sorry to say there was a rather lengthy list, though at the same time the cases were mostly of the usual type. There were charges of breaking and entering and theft. Crime, he was afraid, was becoming all too cornmoil throughout New Zealand. Two men were charged with assault. There was a charge of attempted arson, I 1 and a man was charged with several offences against young boys, and a business man faced charges concerning three offences against the Bankruptcy „ AcL