SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4187, 9 August 1892, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

'J Mr Justice Conolly on Grand Juries. (UNITED PBES3 ASSOCIATION.)

GISBORNE, August 8. At the sitting ol the Supreme Court to-day Judge-Connolly referred to tlio possibility ot the abolition of Grand Juries this session, tho duties to he

discharged by the Crown Prosecutor. Ho thought an institution which had -\Btood the test of centuries must have good in it. From his experience at the bar and his experience as judge ho could not agree «ith the abolition of grand juries, they had frequently prevented people from being placed on trial who ought never to havo been committed, lo a country like this where magistrates very often havo no legal assistance, peoplewerecomraitted who ought not to have been. The grand jury was a valuable institution to stand between the prisoner and the charges that had been made against torn, It is true that in the District the practice of a Crown Prosecutor preferring bills had been in existenco for years, Whether the practico had worked well or ill ho could not say, but he did not think it would be advisable to dispense with a body of independent men and place their powers in an officer of the Crown, who would thus be in a difficult position. He did not think the Crown law officer should be asked to undertake the responsibility. Uis Honor concluded by stating that as ibis might be tho last time he would have to address the grand jury, he could not help saying that he felt the abolition of the system would not be beneficial, Frederick Sydney Joseph Ellis pleaded guilty to horsestealing. Judgment was deferred until to-mor-row morning. Hamahona Fohutu pleaded guilty to a criminal assault, and was sentenced to four years' hard

labour. The Grand Jury throw out tho charge against Michael Daly, with maliciously wounding, Anata Taketako with perjury. 'There is only one other caso on the calendar, a charge of larceny against a Native, which will be heard in tho morning.

Ohhistoiiuhoii, August 8. The Supreme Court criminal cessions opened ibis morning before Mr Justice Denniston. His Honor's charge was very brief. Georgo Whitfield, charged will) stealing letters while employed as postman, pleaded guilty. His Honor postponed sentence till to-morrow. George Howard, on three charges of forging and utter-' ing, pleaded guilty, and wassentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. Louis Bpedding and Henry Campbell, indicted for the larceny of two bicycles, pleaded guilty. Sentence was deferred till to-morrow for the report of the Probation Officer. John Hennington, arraigned for unlawfully and maliciously wounding, plea-

ded not guilty. The foots briefly were that prisoner was put flat of Cambridgo the Hotel, Lytfjjfton, but came back, and Mr Bamford, at the request of certain persons, again put him out. He came back again, and Bamford took him out and showed him the lights on the wharf, Prisoner then wont a couplo of yards, turned round, and hit at the prosecutor. On examination it was found that Bamford had a slight wound on tho stomach, evidently given by some sharp instrument. Accused accounted for this in tho Resident Magistrate's Court by stating that he had a knife in his hand cutting up tobacco, and in the unstring of the ciowd, must'have Struck Bamford by accident. Hennington was found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. Henry Laraman pleaded guilty to stealing acashbox from the dwelling of John Barker, and was sentenced to six months' bard labour, William Solomon was found guilty of assault-

ing and robbing George Clayton in Cußhel street at night, and was sentenced to two years' hard labour, dlm'liamHeenan, charged along with Solomon, was acquitted, The grand jury returned true bills in all the cbbbs on the calendar,