CRIMINAL SITTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 19550, 7 May 1927, Page 10

CRIMINAL SITTINGS

AUCKLAND In the Supreme Court the jury failed to agree in the case of William Jenkins, charged with an offence on a young girl, and a new trial was ordered. The case was peculiar, in that the girl had repudiated her written statement, and accused repudiated his statement admitting that he had attempted to commit the offence. In view of the girl’s statement, the Crown Solicitor abandoned the major charge and relied on tbe charge of committing the offence. His Honor said the accused charged the detective with framing up the whole case, but be thought the jury would have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the police officer, having no interest in the result, would not fabricate such a document. The jury, after deliberating five hours, returned, and the foreman stated that there was no hope of an agreement. Jackson Sutcliffe, charged with indecently assnllting a girl aged 10 years at New Lynn, was found not guilty.

George Edward Dickman, Alfred Richard Dickman, Henry Janies Dickman, and Darcy Robert M'Devitt. who all pleaded guilty to _ several charges of breaking and entering and theft, came up for sentence. _M‘Devitt was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal, Henry Dickman to two years, Alfred Dickman to oue year, and George Dickman to two years. Albert Henry Parish (indecent assault on a female) was sentenced to five years’- reformative detention.