CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1899, Page 5

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON. Monday.

At the Criminal Sessions Judge Edwards regretted to find so many cases, some very serious. With regard to the charge of murder from Palmerston, he said the circumstances did not appear to justify the charge. Murder must be a premeditated act, or killing while intending to do some unlawful act. Here two men quarrelled, one struck the. otWr, and the man fell down and died. It would be preferable to find a bill for manslaughter. With respect to the charges against Captains Allman and Yon Schoen, he suggested that no legal offence was disclosed, but the jury had nothing to do with that.

WELLINGTON, this day.

In the Supreme Court to-day Patrick O'Shea, alias Shea, pleaded guilty to forgery at Palmerston North, and was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour. Robert Douglas, a young man about 20 years of age, was charged with committing rape on a girl aged 17, in the Upper Opaki district. The evidence disclosed the fact that the assault was of a most desperate nature. Accused dragged the girl from a horse on which she was riding, and. after outraging her, dragged her through a field and threw her over a terrace, cutting fern and covering her with it. The girl later on recovered consciousness, and, reaching a settler's house, was taken home. The police were then informed, and Douglas was arrested. The prisoner, who appears somewhat peculiar in manner, aud has an impediment in his speech, was not represented by counsel, and declined to cross-examine the witnesses. He, however, elected to give evidence, but had not said more than a few words when Judge Edwards warned him it was plain he was shamming idiocy, and that •he was not so dense as he appeared. The jury in a few minutes returned a verdict of guilty, and the Judge, while expressing himself confident the prisoner was .sane, said he would like the gaol doctor to have an opportunity of examining him. Consequently sentence was deferred till Friday.

In the Supreme' Court true bills Vvere found in the, remainder of the cases. In respect of the Marine examination cases, the Grand Jury, in a presentment, regretted that there had apparently been Ministerial interference in connection with the conduct of the examinations. A charge of manslaughter against Thos. Kelly, alias Murphy, arising out of a dispute with a mate at Palmerston North, which tesulted.v in the latter dying from a blow, is being heard.