SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1919, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

!NEW PLYMOUTH SESSIONS OPENED (Before his Honor Mr. Justice Hosking). The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court tfere opened at New Plymouth yesterday morning before His Honor Mr Justice Hosking. THE GRAND JURY. The following comprised the Grand Jury :—Messrs H. Cocker, H. J. S. Brookman, C. Carter, J. W. Hayden, W. H. Broome, J. Paton, J. H. Hammond, T. C List, J. R. Hill, A. F. Mollison, H. Ward, B. H. George, R. F. Cornwall, J. Austin. A. S. Brooker, J. Corrigall, W. E. Bendall, D. Penman, H. J. M. Wells, R. H. Bartley, and A. W. Webster. Mr. List was elected foreman.

HIS HONOR'S CHARGF. In his charge to the Grand Jury his Honor congratulated them on the fn-t that the business to be placed before them was of a very light character. There was only one indictment to be considered, which, however, involved two charges of a character which too often stain the criminal character—that of indecently assaulting two little girls. The whole question as to whether there was a prima facie case against the accused depended upon the evidence of the two little girls, who he understood were very young. The matter of whether accused was guilty was not for the Grand Jurythat was for the common jury, if the Grand Jury decided there was a case for accused to answer.

A true bill was returned in the ease, against Alfred James Bysantson, and the. judge thanked the jury for their services and discharged them.

PRISONERS FOR SENTENCE. Huia Kai Thompson (Mr P. O'Dea) appeared for sentence on several charges of having obtained money and goods by means of passing valueless cheques to several .business people in Hawera. Mr. O'Dea put in a plea on behalf of the prisoner in which he stated he had been a member of the first Maori contingent which left New Zealand in 1915. and had had a good record of service, having only recently returned home. He did not know whether his service abroad had affected his mind and unhinged it. He was well known in the district, being an adopted son of Mr. R. Thompson, a highly respected NatiVe interpreter, and there was nothing known against him. He had, however, work to go to and he was willing to repay all the mon«y lie had got wrongly. His Honor remarked on the fact that five cheques, amounting to about £32, had been cashed at a hotel all in one' day. He thought there should be some inquiry into that sort of thing. Continuing the judge said he intended to admit prisoner to probation, in the hope that he would not appear'in court again. The term was fixed at three years, under the usual conditions, and also with the additional terms, that he must be of good behaviour, and not enter a billiard saloon or :>. public house. He did not intend to make any order in regard to the money from the cheques cashed in the hotel. That could be left to the pprt.ics. Tt was like an old practice which one thought had been, done away with. The other moneys would have to be repaid at the rate" of £2 10s per month, to the probation officer, first in defraying the cost of the prosecution and then the amounts received in goods and cash from the other persons to whom cheques had been uttered.

ALLEGED CATTLE STEALING. Albert Charles Ogilvie appeared for ro-trial on charges of alleged cattlestealing. Mr. H. R Billing prosecuted and Mr. P. O'Dea (Hawera) represented accused. The charges were that on or about May "25 last at Oeo road, Auroa, accused did steal 24 heifer calves, of the value of £4B, the property of Allan Robertson, also that on or about the same date he did steal from Timothy Patrick Harris, of Skeet road, Okaiawa, 17 head of ln-months old cattle, valued at £72 ss, and that on or about the same date at Palmer Road, Okaiawa. he did steal 19 heifers and one bull from Alois Uttinger and Son, valued at £7O. Accused was also alternatively charged in each case with having received the said cattle, well knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained.

The following jurv was channelledMessrs. 0. Gibson; H. 0. Skelton, C R Adams, R. B. Sole. W. Quickfall G Allen, E. J. Pepperill, R Gilbert, J. T Locke, H. H. Mace, W. J. Batten, and F. A. Avery. Mr. Allen was chosen foreman. Evidence for the Crown was given by T. P. Harris, farmer. Ahipaipa Road, near Okaiawa, Alois Uttinger, farmer, Palmer Road, Allan Robertson, farmer! Oeo Road, Hector Segar, manager of the Pihama Factory, on the Skeet. Road, Thomas Corriean (15 years of age), who previously resided on the Patiki Road, all of which was much on the same lines as that given at the previous trial. The Court adjourned till 10 a.m. today.