THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 34, 9 February 1903, Page 2

THIS DAY.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. (Before Mr Justice Conolly.) The quarterly criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were commenced this morning, there being nineteen prisoners charged. GRAND JURY. The following grand jury was sworn: S. J. Ambury (foreman), George R. Bloomtield, J. C. Buchanan, E. Cashmore, G. Coleman, C. T. D. Farley, E. T. Firth, H. N. Garland, H. Gower, G. Hart, J. J. Hipkins, Henri Le Bailly, J. McCullagh, Robert Neil, James Robertson, P. Spencer, Joseph Thornes and Robert Tudehope. JUDGE'S CHARGE. In charging the grand jury His Honor said that the cases set down for hearing were numerous, especially when it was considered that a number of cases had been disposed of through .pleas of guilty being entered in the lower Court. Most of the cases were simple, but several were of. a grave character, though happily not involving the loss of human life. One case which would require the careful consideration of the grand jury was one of personation under the Electoral Act of last session. The accused was charged with voting at the last general election at two booths. It was admitted that he voted at the Choral Hall and that someone voted in his name at the Drill Hall. The evidence of the deputy returning officer and the poll clerk at the Drill Hall was conflicting, and it seemed to him on the depositions to be a very weak case, but at the same time the matter was entirely for the jury to decide when the accused should be put on his trial. A remarkable feature of the calendar was the great number of charges of an indecent character, including two of assaults on girls between six: and nine years of age. One of these, appeared to be. highly improbable, but in the case ' of the other it was pretty clear, and seemed to have almost been admitted by accused on his arrest. His Honor gave the principal features of the other charges, and stated his intention of hearing simultaneously the four cases in which the Maoris were charged with assault on a native girl seventeen years of age. His Honor concluded his charge by characterising the latter part of the calendar as a chapter of horrors. TRUE BILLS. The Grand Jury returned a true bill in the following eases: — Henry Clarke, horse stealing at Maungaturoto. Te Waka Kireka, rape at Rawena. Charles James Hart, theft at Cambridge. Frederick Moore Agncw, theft at Auckland. John Wall, theft from the vessel Aratapu. Riwaiti Inoriana, breaking and entering and theft. Te Puhe Tipene and Himcne Tipene, attempted rape at Rawene. Joseph Reynolds, attempted theft at Auckland. FORGERY. Pierce Bowden, a young man, having pleaded guilty to a charge of forging and uttering a promissory note and a letter, came up for sentence. . Mr Baume, who defended the accused, said this was a first offence committed under a certain amount of temptation.. and under circumstances which made the act appear a very foolish one. His Honor said he failed to find any mitigating circumstances, and sentenced accused to two years' hard labour. BANK NOTES BY POST. Ernest Kemp Asher, aged 16, a Tauranga youth, had guilty to stealing a £5 note from a letter while acting temporarily as letter carrier. Mr Baume defended, and read letters from many Tauranga people, praising the accused's previous character. His Honor said it was indiscreet to employ a boy to carry letters, and itwas also unwise to send bank notes in an envelope. On account of tbe temptation thus laid in the boy's way, lie should deal lightly with the case, and release accused on probation for twelve* months A GIRL THIEF. May Williams, aged under J 8, appeared for sentence, on a plea of guilty, for stealing jewellery from Mr De Silva". Mr Martin asked for probation, and said the girl had been employed at different times by Messrs Court Bros., and the D.S.C. at Auckland, and as a barmaid at Thames, where the theft now under trial was committed. Alfred Court, of Messrs Court Bros., and Ernest Queree, of the D.S.C, gave accused a good previous character. Detective Miller said he received bad complaints of the ■ accused at the Thames, where she was dismissed on suspicion of dishonesty from the Junci tion Hotel. She was now on remand on | another charge of stealing IS/ from a till, which she had confessed. His Honor said it yas vory much against his wish to send young girls, or young boys either, to gaol, and lie wished there were soiVte intermediate place between probation, which very often meant nothing, and the prison. Tie wished there were proper reformatories where such persons could be retained under suitable conditions. This was not a case in which bee ould grant, probation, and he must sentence accused to six months' imprisonment. FAILING TO REPORT. William Bouyau, who had been releas- ! ed on probation on a charge of thofl of clothes and a ring from nn Auckland boardinghouse, was now charged with failing to report himself periodically as required by the probat ion order. The Gaoler, Mr Severne. said accused had signed on a steamer sailing for Sydney. Sentence of nine months' imprisonment was passed. ALLEGED HORSE-STEALING. Henry Clarke pleaded not guilty to stealing a horse at Maungaturoto, belonging to Miss Florence Hertz, daughter of the licensee of the hotel. He was not defended. The prosecutrix gave, evidence, and said the horse was worth £10. Accused had been working at the hotel for his food. William Thomas Sarah, storekeeper, of Mangawai, said the accused sold him the horse for £2 10/. William Sharpe, farmer of Te Arohaj said he bought the horse from the previous witness for £.'? 5/, and eventually handed it over to Constable Abrahams. Constable Abrahams said accu-.ed explained 1 hat the hotelkeeper who employed him refused to give him money r when asked, and he therefore thought he

was justified in selling the horse. The jury retired to consider their verdict. A verdict of guilty was returned, the jury recommending prisoner to mercy on account of his youth. His Honor said there were four convictions of theft during the last two years, and sent him to prison for 18 months'. THEFT ON A VESSEL. John Wall pleaded guilty to theft from the vessel Aratapu, and said the crime was committed under the influence of drink. Sentence of four months' imprisonment was passed. THEFT FROM A CLOTHES BOX. Charles James Hart, an old Mount Eden boy, charged with theft of a purse, a ring and £29 in money from a clothes box in a dwelling at Cambridge occupied by Thomas William Salbury, pleaded guilty. Mr Buckland defended and spoke of the youth and previous good character of the accused. Sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment was passed.