SUPREME COURT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 15, 19 January 1911, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

ANNUAL CRIMINAL AND CIVIL RETURNS The annual criminal and civil returns of the Supreme Court for 1&10 piovide material for interesting comparison when set against those of the year before. In the aggregate 113 persons, including four women, were tried and convicted, including those committed for sentence under the- Justices of the Peace 'Act. Of these 16 were between the ages of 15 and 20, 29 between 20 and 25, 20 between 25 and SO, and 26 between 50 and 40. Only one was over 60. Of the above 16 were released tinder the First Offenders Act. In 1909 there were 64- indicted, and of these 24 were acquitted, and 68 were committed under the Justices of the Peace Act. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of sexual offences (grouped), the figures for 1910 and 1903 being 13 as against 2. On the other hand, still speaking of the criminal side, there have been decreases ii> breaking and entering and theft (8 as against 15), and in the matter of plain theft (9 to 15). This year there have been four cases of arson, four burglars were convicted, one individual was charged with murder, one with atfctempt•ed "murder, and one with distributing obscene literature, acquittals being made on the first two. Two individuals were indicted for conspiracy, live for forgery, and forgery and uttering (there was the same number in 1909), and one for bigamy. That dangerous pastime,, assault and robbery, provided only two cases in 1910 as against eight the previous year, and one pase of abortion is on the list. One indictment not on the return for 1909, but included last year, is for cruelty to a child. Plain robberies and assaults are about the same as in 1909. DIVORCE. In divorce there was the same number of petitions in 1910 as in 1909, viz., 60, but whereas last year 45 decrees were granted, only 24 were successful in 1909. This is the most outstanding item under this heading. CIVIL. The number of civil cases- heard in the' respective years {1910-1909} was 36 and 33, and the total amount for which judgment was entered reached the -sums of £21,501 11s 3d and £21,145 18s Id. In 1910, 1 24 plaintiffs succeeded in their claims', and 12 defendants. .Last year 57 fewer writs of summons were issued than v/as the case in 1909, the figures being 134 and 191. The number of writs of execution issued was the same in both years — 23. Judgment* wer& entered as follows :— After trial, 16 (12 in 1909); after confession; 4 (4); by default, 37 (57).