SUPREME COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 15 June 1926, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

NELSON SITTING

The usual sitting, of,t he Supreme Court •eommenced 4 in • NelsOn'to-day before Mr Justice Ostler.

Following Grand Jury was aclled: E. Allnatt, H. Brain, F. A. Bainford, Godfrey Best, D. Dunphy, D. R. Edwards, K. S. Farmer, \V. N. Forster, L. J. Frank, H. Gregory,. N. Greiner, C. Haggitf, F. 0. llamilton, G. F. Kingston, J. E. Hume, W. R. Macpberson, F. J. McCabe, E. R, Neale, J, W. Neale, G. T. O'Hara Smith, R. F. Riclir.rdson, G. P. Russell, E. T. Savage. Mr Hamilton was chosen foreman.

In his charge to the grand jury His Honour congratulated the district on the small amount of crime. There were only two cases which were more or less simple, one against James Ryan for alleged indecent assault,'and the other against Alfred - John Pope, for alleged forgery and uttering. His Honour briefly reviewed the facts of the cases: and also' mentioned that the other criminal case set down for hearing had already been before the court at a former sitting and therefore: would not have to be dealt with bv the grand jury. The. grand jury then retired.

TRUE, BILLS

True bills were returned against Alfred J. Pope, alleged forgery and uttering; and .against James Ryan, alleged indecent assault. Three jurors were ordered to stand aside, by each counsel, ' 1

CRIMINAL BUSINESS

Edward Scott was then charged with indecent exposure. There were three counts. The case was before the Jast , session, .tyheri the'.jury disagreed and a ' pew trial was ordered. Mr C. ,R, Fell appeared for the Crown and Mr W.. V. Rout for accused, who pleaded not guilty to alt three, charges. ,T,^^ 0W ' n S J u, 'y w « a a empanelled: R. .Valker, L. Ward, W. Marsh, T. Andrew, A. W. Ricketts, S. Collier, E. Iv. Richards, E. Sears, J. W. Gribble, r it. G. Johnston, J. S. Cochrane, W, .G. Gibbs. Mr Gibbs was chosen foreman. Crown Prosecutor, in outlining the case for the Crown, said the alleged offences were, committed in Anzac j on s t July, in the Queen’s Gardens on 20th October; and in Slielbourne'Street on 20th October. Mr Fell then proceeded to call evidence

; -A number, of school girls gave evidence in support of. t)|e Crown, ’Several of them stated that they picked out accused from n. number of others, at the Police Station as the. man . who- had committed the offences. Clothes Constable Hall, who said- (hat "when the identification parade was held at the Police Station there wei q nine others present besides 'accused. ' Each ' girl was taken in separately. There ■ were eleven] in all, seven of whom immediately picked out accused; uvo picked out other men, one was .not sure;. . while another failed to pick out any ,of U-- men; ‘ ' ' Evidence was being called for ‘lie de fence when The Mail went to press. .. e-v"/ : ■■... !.•*■. .(Left 'sitting)