LENGTHY CHARGE LIST

Evening Star, Issue 21632, 30 January 1934, Page 5

LENGTHY CHARGE LIST

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE WOMAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE Towards the end of the hearing yesterday afternoon in the Police Court case against Annie M’Dougall Smith, who appeared on seventeen charges of making and seventeen charges of uttering false Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal slips, the Magistrate (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) criticised the action of the police in preferring so many charges,' stating that three charges on each, information would have been sufficient, the other facts to be brought to tbo notice of the court. Mr C. J. L. White, who appeared for the accused, mentioned the fact that there were thirty-four charges, and said that as long as he could remember the practice was to prefer about five charges in a case like that and mention the other informations to the learned judge when the case went before the Supreme Court.

Detective-sergeant Nuttall, who was conducting the case for the police, intimated that he was acting under the instructions of his superior officers. The Magistrate thought that the preferring of thirty-four charges wasabsurd, and at his suggestion the case was adjourned for a- quarter of an hour to enable Mr Nuttall ,and Mr AVhite to put the matter before Superintendent MTlveney. When the case was resumed Detec-tive-sergeant Nuttall said the superintendent was not prepared to withdraw any of the informations. Mr Bundle: It seems to me unnecessary that seventeen charges of forging and seventeen charges ofi uttering should be solemnly preferred and sent forward in a case of this nature. It would have been quite sufficient to have, say, three charges on each information, "and the other facts could then have been put before the court in the ordinary way. Mr White: As far as I know it is the first time a suggestion of this sort from a magistrate has not been followed by the police. Mr Nuttall mentioned that in a case at Wanganui 122 charges had been preferred against a juvenile. Mr Bundle: All I can say is that it is absolutely ridiculous. Mr White then said he would take the thifty-four charges as read. : The accused pleaded guilty. When the question of allowing bail came up His Worship said he would allow bail on one charge in the sum of £IOO in the accused’s own recognisance, provided she remained in the Salvation Army Home. He then remarked that it would have to be on all of the charges. Mr White said it would take about two days to make out the bail forms. It seemed absurd. The Magistrate: It is. The accused at first said she did not want bail, but finally bail was arranged for. '•