COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1938, Page 4

COURT NEWS

MAORI MURDER CHARGE. GISBORNE, December 13. Following the death in Te Puia Hospital, on Saturday, of a 32-year-old Maori woman, Materkina' Grace, of Tuparoa, her husband Dave Grace, .42, also, a Maori, was arrested this morning, and charged with the murder of his wife. He appeared subsequently at the Police Court at Ruatoria, and on the application of the police was remandled. Mrs Grace was admitted to the hospital on Thursday night, in an unconscious condition, resulting from injuries which are understood to include a fracture of the skull. She never recovered consciousness and succumbed early on Saturday morning. No information is available regarding the events leading to the incident, in which the woman received the injuries. WIFE FACES SERIOUS CHARGE. DUNEDIN, December 13. The death occurred at the hospital this morning of William Dickson, 30, admitted yesterday morning, suffering from head injuries. Deceased’s wife, Eva Dickson, 30, appeared at the Police Court yesterday, charged with having assaulted her husband so a s to cause actual bodily harm. On the application of the police she was remanded. Jill Monday. It is probable a more serious charge will now be preferred against the accused. WELLINGTON, December 13. “I have listened to what .counsel has to say on behalf of accused, and I appreciate that in appearing to defend a man on charges of this nature. Counsel has a difficult and most unpleasant task. I feel I have a duty to the public in this matter, and I, propose to inflict a sentence of imprisonment.” said Mr A. M. Goulding S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, in convicting Reginald Hullena, bookseller, Vivian Street, on four charges of delivering by way of hire, indecent documents, and two charges of being in possession, for hire, of indecent documents. Hullena was convicted, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each of tw o charges, cumulative, and was convicted and discharged on the others. The police case described a raid on Hullena’s premises, where a quantity of literature was seized. Defendant it was stated, also conducted a club at his home at Petone, where members were charged a membership fee ranging from four shillings' to pne guinea, according to their capacity to pay. This club operated over the week-ends, and French classics, referred’ to in connection with the club, were described as vile and obscene compositions by unknown authors. For the defence, Mr Scott said that no evidence had been produced by the police as to the nature or class of people, into whose hands the literature came. There was no evidence of broadcasting, and the matter was not broadcast. Members of the club were occuping responsible positions in the city, and Hullena had not catered for young susceptible persons. PROBATION BROKEN. AUCKLAND, December 12. “There have,bpen too/many cases recently of probationers omitting to carry out tljeir liabilities,” said the Magistrate (Mr C. R. Orr Walker, , S.M.) in the Magistrate’s Court in

sentencing to one month’s imprisonment Leonard Inglis Spence, a salesman, aged 24, for failing to comply with the terms of his probation. The Probation Officer said that Spence was admitted to three years’ probation on June 27 in Wellington on a charge of false pretences, and .was ordered to make restitution of £l3. but. had not don e so. He had also failed to report since September 6. It had been reported that lie had borrowed £2OO, and paid £lOO on a motor launch and £lOO on a motor-car, and 1 then borrowed £2O on his equity in the car. “A lot of young men think they can snap their lingers at the law,” added the Magistrate. “This sort of tiling only undermines the usefulness of probation. Probation is a magn:jlicent scheme for those who have erred for the first, second, nr even third time. It behoves the Court to see 'that ali conditions are carried cut. I will have to show this young man and others they cannot flout conditions of probation.”