HAMILTON SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 5

HAMILTON SUPREME COURT.

A LIGHT CALENDAR. ONLY FOUR CASES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. In his charge to the grand jury, his t Honor Mr. Justice Herdman said it was with some satisfaction that lie had announced that the criminal calendar was very small. Never since he had presided at Hamilton had the list been lighter. This spoke well for the behaviour of the people of the Waikato district, and they were entitled to be congratulated upon the comparative absence of serious crime. There were four cases for trial, and only in one was the offence alleged of a grave nature. Probation Granted. A young man named Jack Thompson, who had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering at Otorohanga, and theft of £0 2/10, came up for sentence. In admitting the prisoner to probation for two years, his Honor said he did so on the Probation Officer's recommendation. The condition of probation would be that he kept out of billiard rooms. He had apparently taken out a prohibition order. He would also have to pay costs of prosecution. Alleged Forgery. A middle-aged man named AVilliam Johnson, of Ngaruawahia, was charged with forging and uttering a cheque for £160, purporting to be drawn by E. O. Harris, and with attempting to obtain by means of it a quantity of clothing from a merchant named Henderson at Te Awamutu and the balance in change. Mr. Gillies said that the prisoner bad been living with a girl at Xgaruawahia. The couple went to Te Awamutu for a holiday, where they got hold of a cheque form, which was filled in the name of E. G. Harris for £160. They took it to Henderson's store, where they purchased goods to the value of £12 odd. They stated that the cheque was for wages. Before the goods and change were handed over. Mr. Henderson communicated with the bank and was informed that the cheque was of no value. Evidencc,bearing out counsel's opening was given. Mr. Xoblc. for, the defence, said there was not a scrap of evidence for forgery. Tn any ease,.the <*irl had pleaded guilty to the for»ery. The ease is proceeding.