SUPREME COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 14 May 1912, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS

A GRAVE INDICTMENT.

SY TET.KuBAFH -P»EB8 ARBOCHTIOB

CHRISTCHURCH, May 13

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court opened to-day. His Honor, in addressing the Grand Jury, said that the calendar Mas a lengthy one, and uncongenial in many respects. There were four coses of what might be called an ordinary class out of 15 cases. These were the only ones not connected with sexual offences. Dealing with the charges against six young men of unlawfully carnally knowing a girl under the age of 16, His Honor said that there was no doubt this kind of immorality was becoming very frequent. His own experience throughout the dominion and that of other Judges was that the -pursuit of young girls by men was becoming very frequent. Whether it was through allowing of young men and girls to go ont together without control, or whether the knowledge of the human body was not imparted, or whether there was no attempt at guidance, there was no doubt that this kind of immorality was very Drevalent. The total absence of control by parents of their children was in very marked evidence.

George Foster Brown was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment for theft from the person.

Edward Michael Wood, alias Edward Tayloyv for iiousebroaking and theft, was ordered to be returned to Burnham Industrial School.

William Cooper, on two charges of forgery and uttering, was committed to the Salvation Army Home. Alfred Robinson and Edward Wntson appeared on charges ot theft at Greymonth, and Oliver Robinson on charges of thpft and receiving stolen ,property. The Robinsons were sentenced to six months' imprisonment each, and Watson to three months' imprisonment. James Bartlev, for forgery and uttering a cheque for £23, received six months' imprisonment. Joseph Robinson, with several aliases, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for assault and robbery.

DUNEDIN SESSIONS

DUNEDIN, May 13. The criminal sittings opened to-day. The list is slightly longer than usual. The Grand Jury found true bills in seven out of eight cases. The ease in which no true bill was found was one where a youth named Maloney had been charged with committing an indecent act.

Thomas Johnston, charged with stealing three head of cattle at Oamaru, was acquitted.

Stanley Charles Hilgendorf and Michael Begley, who pleaded guilty respctively to charges of stealing a postal racket from the railway office at Omakahu and receiving £20 from the packet, were admitted to probation for twelve months.

Peter Henry Greig pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing timber from Hogo; and Co., and also to a charge of receiving and sentence was deferred.

James Alexander Greig pleaded not guilty to charges of theft of timber, the property of Ho<jq; an d Co., and of re-r.-iVino-, am j a fter the jury had deliberated for an hour was found guilty on the second count. Sentence was deferred.