CRIMINAL CASES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 27, 1 February 1912, Page 8

CRIMINAL CASES.

. ♦ SUPREME COURT OPENS. SEXUAL OFFENCES. The criminal sessions of the Supremo Court opened to-day, Mr. Justico Chapmun presiding. Mr. H. H. Ostlor, Crown Prosecutor, took tho various cuses. GRAND JURY. The following Grand Jury was empanelled :— Messrs. G. F. Pearco (foreman), .H. S. Hislojj, E. G. F. Zohral), J. B. Palmer, T. Forsyth, R. T. Hobartson, P. Plundoll, E. M. Blake, I. Clark, W. Tumbull, 11. L. Richardson, F. Meadowcioft, li. Fookp, W. 11. Millward, 11. E. Lsighton, A. Ballingall, Algar Williams, A. B. Williams, J. Dankfs, It. \V. Guthric, L. A. Sanderson, C. Fordhtini, anrl Neil Galbraith. HIS HONOUR'S' CHARGE. In his charge to the Grand Jury, his Honour said: — "I do not think your dutie^ on this occasion will occupy you for vory long. The total list for your consideration is considerably shorter than we aro accustomed to at these sittings. Thero aro only seven casosin all. Somo of them, howovsr, will require closo attention. 1 am very sorry to have fo say that one of them is a case — a sexual case — of a very serious > character— in fact, ono of the most serious we have had hero for a very long time. This cast will give you no difficulty. , His Honour went on to refer to tho cas9 of Frederick William Green, seer*, tary and librarian of the Wellington Worxing Men's Club and Literary Insti tuta. ''You need not consider the dofence," said his Honour. "I daresay suggestions will bo made that there was a state of muddle, and that ho was not wilfully guilty. That is not a matter tor the Grand Jury. Not only was there somo falsification tending to show that the acts were wilful acts, but although he was frequently asked for the bankbook, it was not forthcoming: when required. When you hoar tho accountant's ovidonce, you; will experience no difficulty. Other cases in the calendar were then dealt with by his Honour. TRUE BILLS. True bills were returned in the following cases :— George Alfred Tracoy, theft ; Lewis Witteu, indecent assault and indecent exposure; Eroderiok William Green, thett; Granvillo Hunt, forgery an .duttoring; William Frederick Jones, forgery and uttering; and Albert Hjonry Hughes, carnal knowledge. No bill was returned in the charge of theft preferred against Edward Sinclair. ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT. ■ A man named Lewis Witten stoppeif into the dock, to answer & charge of indecently assaulting- a little girl, aged six, on 14th December, 1911. Prisoner was unrepresented by counsel. The court wa« cleared during the hearing of tho. case The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. He pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent exposure, and sentence was postponed. (Proceeding.)