SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 79, 20 August 1912, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

: AUCKLAND SESSIONS. | INCREASE IN CRIME. By [Telegraph—Press Association. I Auckland, Monday. At {he iS'uJirenie Court criminal sessions, Mr. justice Cooper, in his charge to thel Grand Jury, remarked on the of' crime in the Dominion. In conneqilence of the large iloating population lot' Auckland the proportion of crime Was greater there than in other districts. He remarked upon the large number of burglaries, which, it appeared, extended from Australia to the whole of New Zealand. Robin Crago, a youth of 17 years, for seeding letters to J. .1. Craig, a local ifierchant, demanding money, was bound .jjver to 'keep the peace for twelve months, in two sureties of §£2s each. PALMERSTON .SESSIONS. Palmerston N., Monday. The Supreme Court opened before the Hon. JUstie-e Chapman to-day. There is a light! criminal calendar. True bills were returned in the cases Vincent O'Ne.il j and Howard Webby assault. Cltarles llenry Smith sheep-stealing, and Benjamin Kay carnal knowledge. ASSAULT CASE. WELL-KNOWN TRAINER CONVICTED Palmerston N., Last Night. Mr. Justice Chapman to-day heard three charges against Vincent O'Neill and Howard Wribby of assaulting John Stalker. The charges were: (1) Assault with intent- to do bodily harm; (2) assault resulting bodily liarm; (3) assault. Th<; case excited much interest, as O'Neill is a well-known horse trainer, and Stalker was also at one time a New Zealand representative footballer, now living in Palmerston North. The alleged assault occurred in a local hotel, where Stalker has his meals. Stalker's evidence was that he had endeavored to stave off a row. and that he had been assaulted and injured. The defence was that Stalker had given O'Neill provocation when the latter had entered the hotel bar, and had attacked him first. Webby was alleged to have joined in the attack, both on Stalker and another man. who attempted to interfere. A verdict of guilty against O'Neill was returned on the two latter counts, with strong recommendation to mercy. The judge passed a sentence of three months' imprisonment with hard labor. A verdict of not guilty was returned against Webby.