CRIMINAL SITTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 18698, 29 July 1924, Page 6

CRIMINAL SITTINGS

[Pee United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON. The criminal session of the Supreme Court opened before Mr Justice today. In his charge to tho grand jury, the judge referred to tho long calendar, but said that did not necessarily mean any great increase in crime. In regard to the charge of murder, ho said he would not refer to it at length. It was a matter for tho jury to consider. Parlane Ross Walker pleaded guilty to the sale of chattels already under a bill of sale to the Crown, the offence taking place at Auckland. Counsel said accused had acted in good faith in tho matter, and had pleaded guilty in order to save the country tho expense of a prolonged trial. His Honor decided to grant probation, the terms of which were held over. [The murder charge referred to is one in which a man was fatally stabbed during a fight with the accused, occurring in consequence, it is alleged, of the latter’s attentions to deceased’s wife.] AUCKLAND. '■ The criminal cessions have opened. There are only sixteen cases. Tho most serious is a charge of .arson against Thomas Keaton in connection with a fire at Norfhcote. Mr Justice Stringer, in Jus charge to the grand jury, said that the case"depended on circumstantial evidence. Accused had been in financial difficulties, and had the bailiffs in. The insurance, was close on £2,OCf), and there had been, two fires in the same building in January Inst. Tho grand jury found no hill in the charge of manslaughter against William George Kcir, arising from tho death of a man named Neary, who, defendant said, tried to enter hia house while drunk. Kcir pushed him out, and he fell, his head striking tho kerbing, resulting m death.