TARANAKI CASES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 11 May 1921, Page 5

TARANAKI CASES

The sessions of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth opened yesterday, his Honor Mr. Justice Reed presiding. The day was occupied in dealing with criminal cases.

In his charge to the grand -jury his Honor said he understood that criminal matters for consideration were somewhat more numerous than was usual in the district. If this was so, he thought they could be congratulated on living in a district where the.fact that there were seven criminal cases before the court was a matter of comment. ;

The jury returned true bills in the following cases: —Stuart J. D. Russell alleged indecent assault), William Webberly (alleged incest). PRISONERS SENTENCED. A number of prisoners who had plead, ed guilty to offences in the lower court came up for sentence. The count against William Arthur Edward Atkinson was of forgery and uttering at Hawera. A plea on behalf of accused was made by Mr. P. ODea, who said that Atkinson had been em- ' ployed -on his father's farm, and proved a hard-working boy. He left home, and forged the names of his father and uncle to a number of cheques. In reply to hh Honor, the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. C. H. Weston) stated that the amount of the defalcations was £65. . - After hearing evidence of the boy's father, on lines similar to counsel's' statement, his Honor announced that he would allow- Atkinson probation., but it would be on special conditions, which provided for the repayment of the moneys. The term of probation which Atkinson would be. allowed was three years, and he would have to pay the sum of thirty shillings per month • off the moneys received through the ! cheques which he presented. In addition, costs £7 2s would have to be met. Jack Austin, whose occupation was given as a coal miner, appeared in connection with false pretences at Inglewood. His Honor pointed out to prisoner > that his only failing seemed to be drink. He would be admitted to probation for two years, on condition tliat he took out a prohibition order against himself and repaid the amount- concerned (£36) at the rate of £1 per week. For incest, Stephen James was committed to prison for three years' reformative treatment on each of two charges, the sentences to be concurrent, j A sentence of three years' treatment on each of two charges (concurrent), was imposed on a youth .named Raymond Sheaves, who pleaded guilty in the lower court at E'tham to stealing a bicycle at New Plymouth, and to attempted burglary at Eltham. His Honor said accused seemed to have embarked on a career of crime. At Stratford 2J years ago he was committed to the Weraroa training farm on five charges of theft. He absconded on two occasions, the offences under review having been committed on the last occasion he left the institution. ■ A boy named Leo Wilmott New appeared for sentence, the charge against him being the theft of a postal packet and opening a postal packet at Hawera. * Mr. P. B. Fitzherbert made a plea for leniency, and stated that the boy ' had held a good record previously while in the employ of the post office. The offences committed did not give New any monetary advantage. New was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to pay costs, £4 11s 6d, at the rate of 10s per week. ' 'In reply to a request by counsel, his Honor said he could not see his way ; clear to order the suppression of the i name from publication. A TRIAL ADJOURNED. The trial of William Webberly for ! alleged incest (the grand jury having I found a true bill), was adjourned till next session, to enable one of the chief witnesses to attend. ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT. Charges of attempted unlawful carnal knowledge and alleged indecent assault on a little girl were preferred against Stuart J. D. Russell (the grand jury having returned a true bill in this case). Mr. A. A. Bennett represented accused, who pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that the offence was committed on February 19, accused entering the ladies'., bathing shed on the East End beach. The case for the Crown was concluded late in the afternoon, and the Court adjourned till 10.30 to-day, when the defence will be heard.—News.