A HEAVY LIST

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 4

A HEAVY LIST

SUPREME COURT SESSIONS AT

AUCKLAND.

(IX TIUGMFH.—PEISS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 9th December. The criminal sessions opened to-day. The cases number 57, against 25, accused, and include 'charges of theft, murder, attempted murder, and man-' slaughetr. Mr. Justice Cooper remarked that the . list, though for. no apparent reason, was larger than any' brought before a grand jury .during the last two years. ■ ■■•■" ;::-:■>:■■* !

I A number of cases on the list have been adjourned till February, on: account of witnesses being sufferers from influenza. These cases include charges of murder and attempted murder. The following have been sentenced :— Wilfred Martin, alias Baker, qlias Ashford, ,on 'thirteen charges of forgery, uttering, and false pretences, also theft of a stallion and bridle, two years' imprisonment and reformative treatment for a period not exceeding three years. The recent series,of burglaries in the city was recalled by the appearance of James Davern, Edward James M'Clelland, Charles Frederick M'Cormack, and Walter Nicholas Papesch, charged with breaking, entering; and/theft. When asked if they had anything to say why sentence should not be passed, all remained silent with the exception of Davern, who said he had been instructed, to tell the truth. Accused, with the exception of Papesch, were declared habitual criminals, but having regard to the fact that they were youths, and the offences had all been committed at the same time, they /were sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and also ordered that at the expiration of the period they ,be retained. for reformative treatment for five. years. His Honour placed Papesch, who did not participate in the proceeds of the robberies, on probation lor three years, the'terms to be in accordance with the directions of the probation officer. Accused was, also ordered to contribut ff& towards the expenses of the prosecution', at the rate of '£1 per month. Other charges regarding which pleas of. not guilty were entered will be heard to-morrow.

On eleven charges of indecent assault on boys, Horace Bolt, : of Whakatane, wae sentenced to the maximum penalty of ten years' imnrisonment. For bui-giaTy and theft at Whangarei, John Martin, a Maori youth, was ordered reformative treatment for a period not exceeding five years. r