A LIGHT LIST

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 22, 26 July 1927, Page 10

A LIGHT LIST

THE CRIMINAL SESSIONS

The Wellington criminal sessions opened at tho Supremo Court to-day beforo Mr. Justico MacGregor. Tho Grand Jury was as follows:— John Morton Wilson (foreman), Jack Nelson, Robert Hugh Davidson Nichol, Edmund John Archibald, William Ailen Gordon, Thomas Norris, John Charles Murray, Charles Henry Chapman, Alexander Pringlo Smith, William Fielding, Robert Patrick O'Shoa, Samuol Thomas Soddon, Arthur Plnlip . Wing, James Lindsay Dempster, Francis Beresford Young, Henry Hugp Lang, David Mur ray Kean, Thomas Byrno Gusscott, Francis Gordon Fendall, Fredorick Hills Johnson.

In his charge to tho Grand Jury, his Honour said ho was glad to be able to inform the jury that tho list was a small one. Indeed, ho thought tho Wellington district was to bo congratulated on freedom from serious crime. At tho samo time, ho had to state that two of tho charges were of a very gravo nature. In each, a valuable human life was alleged to have been lost through tho negligent handling of a motor-car. This class of offence, ho said, was becoming alarmingly frequent throughout New Zealand. His Honour reviewed tho evidence in tho cases. In regard to the manslaughter charge arising from an accident on tho Hutt road, his Honour said it seemed as though tho material facts were • cry clear. Each of tho two men in the motor-car blamed the other for driving tho car, but that was not material so long as tho jury wero satisfied that both men were in joint possession of the car. His Honour said he did not think that any caso should present serious difficulty to the jury. True bills were returned in the following cases:—William John Walling, alleged manslaughter; Harry Stacey and Ernest Edward Harper, alleged manslaughter, alleged reckless driving of a motor-car, causing bodily injury; George Huia Brewer, alleged escape from custody; John Asher, alleged breaking, entering, and thoft, alleged arson.

(Proceeding.)