SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 196, 18 August 1913, Page 7

SUPREME COURT.

CB.rts__NA_. SESSIONS ©PETTED. CHARGES OF A GRAVE NATURE. The criminal sessions of the Auckland Supreme Court were opened before Mr. Justice Cooper this morning, and the following grand jury was empanelled:— Messrs. Edward C. Smith (foreman), Robert Angus, Samuel Barry. Clement Bartley, John Baylies, Evcrard H. Diss, Arthur B. Burgess, Henry Butcher, George F. Court, Alfred A. Creamer, John 11. Gar-lick, George R~ Hutcbinson, George E. Lee, William B. Leyland, Robert J. Lusher, Frank E. Mason, Arthur B. Roberton, W'lliam Tavlor. Cecil A. Whitney, and Ramsay M." Wilson. HIS HONOR'S CHARGE.

In a-ddressing the grand jury, hfe Honor pointed out that the Met contained a considerable number of indietmente against various persons, and he regretted to ccc that some of the charges were of the most serious charactor. While the number of committals to bho sittings wan not excessive, considering the average number dealt with, at the quarterly sessions of the Court, the nature of the oiharge.3 in many instances was very grave. The list included two indictments of luurdei, several charges of sexual offences, several involving diishonesty. and others 01 robbery with violence, while there was a serious allegation of incest, and one ol bigamy. Ilk Honor warned Lhe jury that it was Uieir duty not to try the prieoners. but to ascertain whether there was sufficient prima facie evidence to justify tlie trial proceeding before the ordinary tribunal established. In reviewing the cases individually, hie Honor referred to the Warkworth murder serration, which he de-i-x"ribpfl as a most distressing ease, in voicing a charge against a. mother ol killing her teu-year-old daughter an-d attempting the murder of two other children. Whether the unfortunate. woman woe criminally responsible for her act was not a matter coming wiLhin the province of the jury. An net of the kind, committed under the eireiiraatancew that would bo. detailed, wa« suggestive, in l.lie iir.-n instance, that the mother was demented at the time, but it was for the jury to return a true bill and leave the onus of proving "a want of a snund mind" on the prisoner. The situc remarks applied to the charges of attempted murder-. In regard to the Henderson murder charge, an nl!c<ration against a woman of setting fire to a neighbour's clothing, and Urns ea-uain" her death, his Honor directed that 011 the evidence adduced at the Police Court, there was justification for a true bill, and further investigation into the epwjKle. Other charges on the list were briefly referred to, and the jury retired. TWO CASES POSTPONED. The hearing of a charge of perjury apinst Laurie Bates, of Thames, and a charge ot carnal knowledge against Dan f Ar° f . Wai,,i > involving the attendance or Maori-* fro mareas infect* dwith the prevalent disease, was postponed till the next criminal sessions. His Jlonor remarked tint although the criminal code failed ta make provision for such n. proeeedure, he was justified by an Englisii case, and in the interests of the health of the community, and by virtue of tinproclamation forbidding tl'ie travelling by .Maoris from infected districts, in postponing the cases. FOIR ROLLS OK SHIRTING. I'atrick Campbell, a short, middle-aged ni.in. denied the theft of four rolls of shirting, valued at fli, from the factory of Arch. Clark and Sons, in Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, on June 12 last, and «l-o pleaded not guilty to a charge of escaping from lawful custody. The Hon. J. A. Xole prosecuted, and the prisoner conducted his own defence. The allegation of the police, supported by the evidence of several witnesses, was to the effect that prisoner was seen carrying the roils of shirting and concealing them under the luncheon room attached to the premises, then retiring ro the cover of a bush tree in the factory grounds. When discovered, the prisoner very effectively acted the inebriated person, but while under arrest a few minutes Itaor he made a sober looking dash for liberty.