SUPREME COURT TRIALS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10265, 7 February 1899, Page 6

SUPREME COURT TRIALS.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.)

WELLINGTON, February 6. At the criminal sessions Air Justice Edwards regretted to find so many cases, and some very serious. With regard to the charge ot murder from Palmers ton, the circumstances did not appear to justify the charge. Murder must be a premediated act, or killing while intruding to do some unlawful act. Here two men quarrelled, one struck the other, and the man fell down and died. It wus preferable to find a bill for manslaughter. With respect to the charges against Captains Ailtnan and Yon Schoen, he suggested tnat no legal offence waa disclosed, but the jury had nothing to do with that. No bill was returned against Constance NichoHs, charged with vitriol-throwing. Tbe charge against Robert Douglas for rape, at Masterton, was heard. The Court was cleared. Tbe prisoner elected to give evidence, but had not said more than a few words when Mr Justice Edwards warned him that it waa 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 confkktit that the prisoner was sane, said he would like tho gaol doctor to have an opportunity of examining him. Consequently, sentence was deferred till Friday. Patrick O'Shea, a___ Shea, pleaded "Guilty" of forgery at P_h_atston North, and was sa-teaoed to twelve months' hard labour. INV_-U__RG_LL, February 6. The Supreme Court sittings opened to-day before Mr Justice Pennefather. The calendar comprises seventeen cases ag_inst thirteen accused, including nine charges of offence? against women and children. Tbe Judge commented on the length of the calendar, and characterised the offences as of a serious and disgraceful character. He suggested tc the grand jury, as representative of the leading citizens, that tbey might consider wfcether there waa any cause why crimes against morality should be so lamentably life in Southland, and whether any steps, lac-dative, punitive, or otherwise, might be taken to bring about an improvement. Any presentment of tbe jury would be brought before the proper authorities. Jas. .burgess, an old resident, for attempted suicide wa? ordered to enter into sureties to keep the peace. Jas. Black, for the theft of £5, was admitted to probation for one year, on condition that he paid the costs of the prosecution and consented to the issue of a prohibition order. John Price, for robbery from the person, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and Joseph Blee, for perjury, nine months' imprisonment. All pleaded guilty. Francis W. G. Evans, engineer, was found guilty of false pretences, and sentenced to four months* hard labour. With reference to the remarks of his Honour as to the increase of offences against women, the Grand Jury through the foreman, said they had reason to believe that the alleged increase of crime in the district was more aprjßr—*t than real. The remedies the grand jury suggested for the apparent spread of imraorality were a more vigilant parental -control, and that in aggravated cases, especially against children of tender years, tbe discretion given to the Court to order punishment by flogging .■hould be enforced. His Honour thanked the jury for the fpresentmjent* wihich he considered most valuable.