CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11952, 29 April 1902, Page 6

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

. [BY TELEGRAPH. PEESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. Tim criminal sessions opened this morning. The Chief Justice, addressing the grand jury, said the number of cases (13 persons with 11 or 12 charges) was about the same as last year, but figures were not an absolute test of the criminality of the district, as cases now came direct to the Court when the accused pleaded guilty. There was one case of murder, another of attempted murder, with a very serious result, and another of arson, which seemed more like wilful mischief than anything else. As to the case against Katherine Alexander and Thomas MureoU, of Mnsteiton, charged with murdering the former's new-born infant, His Honor directed the grand jury that they must have evidence that the body found was that of the girl's child before they could return a true bill. Unless it was shown the case was wilful killing, the charge would in any case be reduced to manslaughter. True bills were found in all cases except in the charge of attempted murder against Katherine Alexander and Thomas Murcott, in which the count was altered to a charge of concealment of birth. '

Charles Harbott and Charles Smith pleaded guilty to arson at Carterton. As there was absence, of criminal intent, the offence appearing to have been a freak of larrikinisni. accused were ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. John Smith pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder of his wife at Feilding by striking her on the head with an axe. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of common assault, with a strong recommendation to mercy. b