SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 122, 24 May 1909, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. The Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning before his Honor Mr. Justice Edwards. The Court was crowded. THE GRAND JURY. The following gentlemen were empanelled on the Grand Jury:—Messrs. Charles C. Baker, F. H. Bamford, Arthur J. Blomfield, G. R. Blomfirld, A. <- Brown, Reginald George Clark, Krnest Arthur Craig, Frederick Hamilton l r ord. Edward James George, William Norton Jowett, Frederick James Kenderdine, Harry Kinder, Joseph "Miller, George Turnbull Nicholl, Walter Pavitt, Jonathan WiJliam Smith, VA'illiam Christopher Somers, John Charles Spcdding, Edwin Tole, and Arthur Pollard Wilson. Mr. .Edwin Tole was chosen as foreman. THE JUDGES CHARGE. In his charge to the Grand Jury, his. Honor regretted that there were no 1* , * 15 than 42 offences on the calendar, involving charges against a mud) larger number of persons. It was only with regard to questions oi law, however, that anything needed to be said to the jury. For the most part, those were simply ordinary charges of theft, housebreaking, false pretences, forgery, etc. But the number was large, and his Honor was very sorry to record an increase in crime. One or two cases were worth special attention. For instance, there was the case against the manager of the Costley Home for assault upon an inmate. It might appear to the jury that the rules of the institution required the inmates to behave according to rules, and that it was the duty of the manager to enforce the rules. That, however, was no justification for violence. If an inmate refused to conform to regulations, the proper remedy was to turn him out of the institution, not to belabour him. The assault might not appear to be a serious one, but under circumstances such as those in point the liberty of the subject must be vindicated. His Honor also made special reference to the charge against a man named Tanner, who was charged with assaulting a sheriff's officer. This, again, j might not appear to l>e serious, but that j was not a matter for consideration, and, even if it had been a merely technical assault, it was the duty of the jury to return a true bill. A sheriff's officer must be protected. He was there for the protection of the public, and must not be subjected to any interference in the performance of his duties. The charges referring to sexual offences were, his Honor remarked, not very numerous, but some of these were very shocking. The Judge mentioned that in one case there was the question as to whether the prisoner knew that a girl was under the age of consent, and in another a suggestion of insanity had been raised. Neither of • these points, however, could be considered in returning a true bill. TRUE BILLS. True bills were returned as follow.i up to the time of going to press:— Against Percy Cassidy (breaking and entering and theft); Wiiliam Arinnie, . alias Harris (theft); Gustavo .Solomon (forgery and uttering); Carl Francis Walker (forgery and uttering); David Lansing Huston, alias Edgar, and Lorenzo Huston, alias Warren Miller (perjury); Kecs Nicholson (opening and detaining postal packets); Roland Oliver Davis (horse stealing); Henry Terawhiti (perjury); Alfred Brewer, alias C. Anderson (forgery and uttering). KIGHTBKN MONTHS' HARD. Percy Cassidy pleaded guilty to an indictment of breaking, entering, and theft, and escaping from lawful custody, at or near Dargaville, on 22nd and 2b'th March. When asked if he had anything to say, the prisoner stated that-he was driving through the bush and got wet through and very cold, so that he determined to enter the shanty he was accused of breaking into. He knocked first, but no oue answered, so he entered the shanty and took an overcoat and drove on. He was subsequently accused of theft, and arrested. . His Honor said it appealed that prisoner had been convicted several times of. breach of the peace and using indecent language; further, it seemed that prisoner was sentenced to six months' imprisonment at the Magistrate's Court at Dargaville on January 4th last. The prisoner said there was an option of a line of £10. Ho paid the h'ne. His Honor said that a sentence of £10 or six months was a most extraordinary sentence. With re;;ard to the present ease, seeing that the prisoner had been at the same game before, he would be sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour. A LADY'S PURSE. William Arinnie, alias Harris, was indicted that on April 30th, at Taumarunui, lie did steal a lady's purse in a railway carriage, the said purse containing rings, tickets, and money. Thomas Fanning was charged with receiving same, well knowing it to be sto'.en. Botli prisoners, who were undefended by counsel, pleaded not guilty. 'The Hon. J. A. Tole, X.C.. Crown Prosecutor, outlined the circumstances of the case, from which it appears that a Mrs. E. A. James, residing at Kandallah, Wellington, travelled by the Main Trunk express 'which left Auckland on April 29th. She travelled second class in a carriage occupied by the prisoners and, it being night time, she put her purse in a handbag and the handbag in a hamper at her feet, and went to sleep. On awaking, she missed her purse Subsequently suspicion fell upon the accused, who were arrested and questioned At first they denied all knowledge of the theft, but upon being pressed Arinnie produced the rings from his top vest pocket. X (Proceeding.) At the Supreme Court this afternoon Carl (Francis W;ilkt\r, a young man formerly in the employ of Hon. J \ Tole, pleaded guilty to 25 charges of ' forgery, and was sentenced to ° three years' imprisonment with hard labour.