SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 117, 28 May 1901, Page 4

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] Christchurch, last night-

The criminal sessions were continued this morning, before Mr Justice Cooper.A charge against Walter Narbey of sheepstealing was partially heard before Judge Denniston and adjourned till to-morrow, when proceedings will bo commenced de novo before a' fresh jury. The civil cases were adjourned till Friday. The case against Robert Wilson Wood of perjury at the Magistrate’s Court at Culverden is being gone on with. The defence in the Hood case is that the statements made by accused as to payment of cheques to the girl who claimed in the lower Court for wages were made under a mistake. The cheques were afterwards found to have been paid to other people. Hood in his defence said he had honestly believed he pafd the cheques to the girl. Later. —At the Supreme Court the jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the charge of perjury against Robert Wilson Hood. James Ferguson, for indecent assault, was found guilty, and sentence deferred until to-morrow.

Dunedin, last nigh In charging the Grand Jury at

opening of the Supreme Court this morning, Mr Justice Edwards referred at length to the trial by jury system, and the - misconstruction placed in some quarters upon his recent remarks on the subject in Wellington. Ho had not, he said, advocated the abolition of the system, but on the contrary believed that such a step would render the Judge’s position intolerable, and the value of his public services would become greatly impaired. No Judge could desire to destroy this part of the administration of justice, which is his own best protection. In closing his remarks upon the subject, His Honor pointed to the need of greater care being exercised, especially in the centres, in the compilation of jury lists. The calendar comprises six charges against five prisoners, and includes three charges of attempted rape. Referring to the Otarama stabbing ease, Judge Williams said it was peculiar, because to some extent the Grand Jury had to consider the probabilities of the Crown calling evidence tending to exculpate as well as ovidence to incriminate accused. Adverse comment had been made on- the Grand Jury’s action last session in taking a long time to consider, and in throwing out the Bill. Under the circumstances, a long consideration was necessary, and apart from a knowledge of the evidence no one could well say whether a Bill

should have been ignored or not. Tho first case taken was a chargo of incest against an elder of tho Church of Christ. At the Supreme Court in the Otarama murder case, in which William Thompson, a seaman, was charged with the murder of Gibbs, another seaman, the foreman of tho grand jury, after retirement, asked whether the verdict of a majority would bo taken. His Honor said that in order to find a true bill the twelve grand jurors must confirm the bill. After a brief retirement the jury announced that they found no bill, and accused was discharged. The chargo against John McCormick, of incest and assault at Hampden, was not concluded when the Court rose.

Napier, last night. At the Supreme to-day James McGregor was convicted on a charge of indecently assaulting a married woman, named Harris, at Ngamoko, near Norsewood, on March 11 last. Sonteneo was deferred.