SUPREME COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1939, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

CASES AT DUNEDIN.

[l’EB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

DUNEDIN, July 18.

The quarterly session of the Supreme Court was begun this morning with Mr. Justice femith on the .Bench. His Honor expressed the opinion that satisfaction would be felt at the fact that only three cases were set down for hearing. These were against Harry Vivian Smith, charged with breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, against Matthew James Hamilton, charged with having uttered a forged document, and against Frederick Gordon, the charge against whom was one of robbery. True bills were returned in each case. The 10 charges against Smith included allegations of the removal and concealment of property and making material omissions in statements to the Official Assignee. Long evidence was heard, and the case for the prosecution was unfinished when, the Court rose for the day.

CHARGE AGAINST CLERK.

ALLEGED BREAKING & ENTERING.

WELLINGTON, July 19.

In the Supreme Court, the trial was begun of Geoffrey Spicer Kean, 22, clerk, Who is pleading not guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the house of Miss K. M. Reston, fit Napier, with intent to commit a crime. Mr Cunningham, for the Crown, said that the real issue was whether accused was one of three men alleged to have been concerned in breaking and entering. Two of them, Cornlander and Matterson, had already been dealt with by the Supreme Court. Miss Reston was secretary of the Gaiety Theatre, and had' charge of the theatre keys and safe key. On returning home at 9.50 o’clock on Easter Monday night, she opened the kitchen door. She found that; the light would not go on, and, as she was about to strike a match, she was struck on the shoulders and knocked down, her head being bumped on the floor. When she started to scream loudly, neighbours came in at once, and found Courlanoer and Matterson in the house. They would swear that Kean was the third man. He knew Miss Reston, having been to her house as a boy, and having had meals there,' the last one about New Year.

(Proceeding.)