SUPREME COURT. CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 5 February 1900, Page 6

SUPREME COURT. CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

_____ {Before His Honour the Chief Justice and | Juries. ) The Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court opened at 10.30 a.m. to-day. GRAND JURY. The following Grand Jury was empannalled: — James Coates (foreman), C. A. Innea, George E. Elson, R. M. Simpson, W. L. Palmer, W. C. Chatfield, Fredk. Taylor, F. C. Crease, H. Leicester, Geo. Humphries, Wm. Allan, 0. M'Ardle, T. W. Pilcher, J. H. Hall, J. Calcanai, R. Mothes, R. Maudsley, G. H. Baylis, Walter Nathan, I. C. .F. Duncan, W. Higginbotham, F. J. Roache, and J. H. Whitton. HIS HONOUR'S CHARGE. His Honour, in charging the Grand Jury, said the majority of the cases required little comment, being of a simple character. There were unfortunately two case* of sexual crime — one a grave reproach to our civilisation, that of a young man charged with having improper relations with a child of live years. This was a case which he would make no comment upon. The other was a case in which the accused was charged with having immoral relationship with a young girl under 16 years of age. It was alleged that the girl led an immoral life, but the law provided for the protection of females under 16. If the evidence appeared clear to the Grand Jury, they would send him to his trial. There was a case of perjury, but an the jury had to enquire into was whether the evidence showed that the oath was wilfully false, and was intended to mislead. If they thought so they would send accused to trial. There j were three persons charged with theft. The evidence pointed to one person being concerned in the theft, but two others had, according to the depositions, disposed of the article which they knew did not belong to them. If they found the evidence did not point to criminal knowledge on the part of these two, they would find against the one only who was actua.ly concerned. There were various thefts on the calendar, but he need not go through them seriatim ; \ they would present no difficulty to tho jury. The Grand Jury then retired. TRUE BILLS. * True Bills were returned against Henry Hargreaves, theft ; Henry Williams, false pretences ; George Gleiser, theft ; Martha Tainui, forgery ; James Amos, theft ; Daniel Coakley, assault and robbery; William Dunne, perjury; W. R. J. Miller, forgery; John Coopo Jowett, alias Dawson, attempting to steal ; David George Lewis, theft. FALSE PRETENCES. Henry Williams, alias Northey, pleaded Guilty to two charges »of false pretences at Palmerston North in November, and was remanded for sentence. THEjjT. George Gleisher pleaded Guilty to a charge of theft from Florence Goodman, and was remanded for sentence. James Amos was indicted for the theft of sundry articles at Palmerston North between Ist September, 1899, and 2nd January, 1900, tho property of the United Farmers' Co-operative Association. Accused pleaded Guilty, and was remanded for sentence. ASSAULT AND ROBBERY. Daniel Coakley was indicted on a charge of having on the 22nd December last, ut Wellington, robbed John Robertson of one sovereign, one sovereign case, and one chain, and with using personal violence to Robertson!

Prisoner, who pleaded Not Guilty, was* ilefcndcd by Mr. T. Young. Mr. ' Gu'.ly appeared lor tho Crown. Mr. H. 1). Barber was chosen foreman of the jury. The evidence brought forward for the prosecution was that on tSs dale in question in the evening, John Robertson was in the Shamrock Hotel, and whilo there had occasion to open his sovereign Cii.se to get change, leaving a .sovereign in the case. Accused, who was present, witnessed the act. Leaving the hotel at about 11 o'clock, Robertson wont as far as the Basin Reserve, and on returning and while- in Taranaki-street. accused came up to lTim and asked for a loan of 2s. While- Robertson was getting the money out of his pocket accused slapped him in the face, snatched tho sovereign cas>o with contents, tore away the gold chain to which it was attached, and ran off. Tho property was subsequently disposed of. *«o evidence was called for the defence. His Honour having summed up, the jury retired at 2.40 p.m. to consider their verdict, and after an absence of a few minutes, returned with a verdict of Guilty of theft. Sentence was deferred with a view to admitting accused to probation. FORGERY. Martha Tainui pleaded Guilty to 9 charge of forging an authority for the delivery of goods, and attempting to obtain goods from John Kirkcaldie by false pretences. She was remanded for sentence. THEFT Henry Hargreaves, alias Cook, alias Taylor, was charged with the theft of various articles on the 30th October and 4th November, 1899, the properly of the Trustees of the Baptist Church, Wellington. Accused pleaded that he had sold the articles, not knowing them to be stolen. This was, entered as a plea of Not Guilty. Mr. Gully prosecuted on behalf of the Crown ; prisoner was undefended. Mr. Meadowcroft was chosen foreman. The case is proceeding as we go to press