AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13391, 21 January 1907, Page 7

AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT

STATISTICS FOR 1006.

MARKED DECREASE IN CRIMINAL

BUSINESS

INCREASE IN DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS. Tin-, annual statistics of the Auckland Supreme Court for the year 1906 were completed mi Saturday, and it i- satisfactory to note that there, has been a considerable falling off in the criminal business as compared with that of the previous year. In 1905 no fewer than 140 persons were indicted on 143 informations, whereas in 1906 there were only 103 and 90 respectively—a decrease of 37 on the number of persons indicted, a.nd of 53 on the number of informations. Of the persons indicted hist year 61 were convicted a nit sentenced and 42 acquitted., as compared, with 87 and 53 respectively fo, 1905. In 1906 51 persons were also committed from the lower Court, for sentence, or live less than in 1905, when 56 persons were sent forward. One hundred and twelve persons- were thus sentenced at the Auckland Supreme Court last year as against 143 in 1905.

The offences with which the various persons in 1906 were charged, and the number indicted are its follows, Hie figures in parentheses being those for 1905, which arc. shown for (lie sake of comparison: — Assault causing actual bodily harm, 4 (15) ; attempted rape, 3 (4); attempt to carnally know a girl under age, 1 (0) ; attempted unnatural offence, 3 (1); attempted murder, 1 (1) ; unnatural offence, 1 (1); carnally knowing a girl under age, 1 (1); indecent assault on a female, 5 (3) ; manslaughter, 1 (4) ; rape, 2 (1); attempted arson, 1 (0); arson, 2 (1); breaking and entering and theft, 20 (18); breaking and entering, 2 (2) ; forcible detention of land, 8 (0); false pretences, 3 (3); assault and robbery, 6 (8); receiving stolen property, 2 (2); theft, 6 (21); theft from a dew'lling, 6 (12); thelt [loin the person. 1 (0) theft of cattle, etc., 7 (5); uttering counterfeit coin, 1 (1) ; procuring commission of arson, 1 (0); killing beast with intent, to steal the carcase, 1 (0) ; attempt to discharge firearms with intent to intimidate, 1 (1) ; bigamy, 1 (0) ; discharging firearms with intent to do grievous bodily harm. I (0) ; breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, 1 (0); forgery and uttering, 3 (9)'; imitating registered brand, 1 (0); keeping a common bawdy house, 1 (0) ; perjury, 3 (12); personation, 2 (0). In 1905 two persons were charged with murder, whereas none were charged with the capital offence in 1906. Of the two persons charged in 1905 one was acquitted, while in the other instance the grand jury threw out the bill. In 1905 there were two cases of mischief, one of abduction, one of making a false declaration, one of selling printed matter of an indecent nature, one of child desertion, and one of performing an illegal operation, whereas there were none of these in 1906.

Of the .112 persons sentenced in 1906, four received terms- of 10 years and under 15 years, one a term of seven years and under 10 years, 13 term' of live years and under seven years, 17 terms of three yeans and under five years, 21 terms of two years and under three years, 30 terms; of one year and under two years, seven terms of six months and under 12 months', one a term of three months and under six months, while three were fined, 10 released under the 'First Offenders' Probation Act, and four ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. In 1905 one man wax sentenced to imprisonment for life, this being for two unnatural offences.

At the civil sittings during the year three coses were tried by common jury, and 13 casus by the judge alone, as against four by common jury, and 11 by the judge alone in 1905. In 1906 92 writs of summons were tested as compared with 72 in 1905. There was an increase in the. number of actions heard in the Divorce Court during 1906. as compared with 1905. In 1906 there were 29 petitions for dissolution of marriage, two for nullity of marriage, and two for restitution of conjugal rights, while in 1905 there were 24 petitions for dissolution of marriage, and one for restitution of conjugal rights.

THE DUX&DIN COURT STATISTICS. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN' COKKESI'O.V DK.VT. | Dunkdin, Sunday. The Supreme Court statistics foi 1906 show that the mania.'] of persons indicted on criminal charge* was 31, all of whom were males. Nineteen, of them were convicted and 11 acquitted, while one is now awaiting trial. Eighteen males iUid one female were committed for sentence under the Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Amendment Act, 1901. The prisoner? indicted for offences were:—Murder, one; manslaughter, two; attempted murder, two; indecent offences of various kinds, six; assault and robbery, one ; breaking alia entering and various tliefts, 12; conspiracy, three; horse stealing, one; forgery, one; selling a ticket in a game of chance, one. Among those committed for .sentence were 12 for breaking and entering and theft. The. offence for which the female was committed for sentence wok false registration of a birth. Five of those convicted were between 15 and 20 years of age, five between 20 and 25, 11 between 25 and 30. 10 between 30 and 40, three between 40 and 50, and four between 50 and 60. During the year 22 petitions for dissolution of marriage were tiled, two for judicial separation, two for nullity of marriage, and one for restitution of conjugal rights. Twenty-one decrees / were granted foi dissolution of marriage, / two for nullity of marriage, and one for re- / stitution of conjugal rights*. tine petition/ was dismissed, and no decree was made lot/ judicial separation. On the civil bide y cases were heard, 16 resulting in favour/ the plaintiffs and 13 in favour of the de/' K dants. Judgments were recorded for fc,' lis lid, and costs amounted to £91 V™ /