SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1919, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

' CRIMINAL SESSIONS- ; The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened at New Plymouth yesterday, His Honor Mr. Justice Hosting presiding, THE GRAND JURY. The following constituted the Grand Jury:—Messrs. F. W. Cornwall, J. S. Connett, R. H. hartley, K. J. Dcare, R. Addcnbrooke. W. H. Broome. F. Watson.. C. E. Bcllringer, 0. H. Dolby, 0. N. Firth, J. Corrigall. E. Whittle, L. E. Hoffmann. K. Dingde. W. F. Jeivkins, G. Fox, D. K. Morrison, W. C. Nixon, W. E. Kendall,'J. W. Abbott, L M. M. Mont.enfh. N. Bnlharry, and R. T. McQuadc. Mr. Bell-' ringer was elected foreman. HIS HONOR'S CHARGE / His Honor said there were four indictments for the Grand Jury's cn-sidera-tion, The first was a case of obtaining credit by nums of fraud. After outlining the evidence, (the judge said to establish the fraud there must be evidence of a debt incurred and also of credit given. In order to sustain the charge, the jury must bo satisfied that there was sufficient evidence that accused had obtained the credit by Means of fraud, well knowing he could not; discharge the debt. At the time of the arrest, accused had stated to the police that he had intended to plead guilty. The next case was a charge of attempted rape, in which there was some corroborative evidence by a son of the woman concerned who was outside the billiard room in which the offence is alleged to have been committed, during the time it was said to have taken place, and there was also evidence that an immediate complaint had been made to the police. Tiie third case was one of theft of a horse, which, he thought, would give tho jury little trouble. The facts alleged were that accused had stolen a black mare and some harness, and afterwards exchanged it for a hack. The circumstances of the exchange might imply that accused was the owner of the marc and had power to make the exchange effected. If the jury were satisfied that accused had so acted as to indicate that he was the owner of the mare, even though he did not aetun-lly say so, they were entitled to find a true bill on false pretences. The other case was the most serious of the calendar, that of a charge against a young woman of about 21 years, nf tho manslaughter of an infant child, and alternatively, with wilfully reposing (he child or with wilfully abandoning it. His Honor went over the evidence at some length and explained to the jury what they must he satisfied upon in order to return a true bill TRUE BILLS. The jury returned true bills in the cases of John Adams, atemptcd rap*. Percy Ward, theft, ' Frederick Thomas Ellis, false pretences.

In the case of Margaret Elizabeth Close, charged with the manslaughter of an infant, the Jury returned no bill. The Judge then thanked the jurymen for their attendance and services, and the very careful attention they had evidently given to the matters presented for their consideration, and discharged tliem, ATTEMPTED RAPE. John Adams was charged with, on June 15,191,9, at Hawera, attempting to commit rape, and also, alternatively with assault with intent to commit rape, indecent assault, and with common assault. Mr. H. R. Billing appeared for the Crown, and Mr. 'P. O'Dea for accused, who pleaded not guilty. The following jury was cmpaiinelled: Messrs. B. Martin, 11. 0. Skelton.Jl. H. Olsen, 11. R. Boswell, L C. Sladden, L. F. Laurent, A. Cowling, Wm. Richards, E. R. Bailey, C. D. Chant, E. W. Goodall and H. J. Bedford. Mr. Sladden was chosen foreman. The court was cleared during the hearing of the case. Evidence for the Crown occupied the court practically the whole of the remainder of the day. The defence will be proceeded with at 10 a.m. to-day. CHARGES OF THEFT. Percy Lewis Ward pleaded guilty to a series of charges of theft committed in the Toko district, including that of a black mare and some harness from C. Bevans, of Toko Road. Mr. C. 11. Croker, who represented accused, asked that the terms of the Probation Act should be applied to the prisoner, who was merely a boy of 18 years of age. Ho pointed out that accused had worked for Bevans, who owed 'him some money for the work done, His Honor stated he would confer with the probation officer, and remanded accused until this morning. CIVIL LIST? WJiwi the order of the civil list was being arranged, adjournments were granted in the following cases: J. R. Corrigan v. Noti Wairahui (claim for balance agreed upon, £250); R. T. Rongonui and others v. Ti Hokio (claim for debt, £330, and interest, £45). When_the case of J. T. Saunders v. T. Kata Tliompson was called there was no appearance of the parties.