THE CRIMINAL SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17700, 8 February 1921, Page 7

THE CRIMINAL SESSION.

TO GRAM© 3HJRY„ JTWO MURDER CASES LISTED. POTHER GRAVE 'INDICTMENTS. The quarterly criminal session' of the Fnpreme Court cpened yesterday, before "Mr. Justice Stringer. Mr. V. R Meretlith, Crown Pi-osecutor, conducted the irases *or the Crown. The grand jury troasisted of Messrs. James Robertson k foreman), Charles C. Allen, Charles N. iAJpress- Robert Angus, Edwin Blair, William Bovne, John Brigham, Stanley A. i n.rr Charles Carter, James M. Carpenter, Richard T. CatW, William F. Dickon. Matthew W. Forsythe, Albert Tonson I'r&rltck, William Griffiths, Henry J. Hall, {S.-urmel H. Leyland, John McGregor, AmJjrose C. Pawsoa, Gilbert Sandford. His Honor, in his address to the grand finry, «wd the calendar was somewhat extensive, and involved the investigation of *. vpral charges of a somewhat grave char-ai-ter. .ujd two of the gravest. The maj'Tity, however, were comparatively pimple, and consisted, as usual, of crimes ct dishonesty. There "were two extremely painful rases, involving murder ciiarges, e=a..l His Honor, one against a young man ■■'-ir murdering his mother, and the other a man for murdering his son. Regarding the nlleged matricide. His Honor i.aid that the accused, Frederick Fpearpouit, appeared in the shop of a blacksmith at Henderson on November 3, sind in ;tn agitated manner said he had jmtrdered his mother. Mrs. Spearpoint ■vns found in a dying condition with her ikull smashed in, apparently by an axe, >vhich whs lying beside her. To justify a conviction far murder the killing must if d"ne other than in the heat of passion »v on sudder. provocation. Killing done rn sudden impulse was manslaughter. If ihp jury found that the accused had inil'cfceid the injuries to his mother, then it u-as for him to set up a defence of infinity, for example, or of sudden proyoca--1 "'on. which, if proved, would reduce the c-nme to manslaughter or homicide. His [Honor thought it wisest for the jury to T-iuru a true bill, and leave the circumBtmces of the case to the common jury. The other case, continued the Judge, ■was almost as distressing. An elderly named man named Thomas Needham, ■with a larjre family, living near Maungaturnt ■>, he-id found fault with the affairs of the farm, and on the morning of Januarv 15 accused, who appeared to be excitable and of i-soraewhat ungovernable 1-nippr, went to where his son was working in a shed. His daughter heard him *ay "Tve got you iiotp/' and saw him ftandi:.g over the prcsti-ate form of her 1 mther,"beating him with a broom handle. The evidence was to the effect that Need--1 am cut his throat and then attempted <o drown himself in a well. There was ■t.<> dispute over the facts, and the jury -u-ould have no difficulty in finding a true bill. The question of the accused's responsibility could be left to the Court to decide, WORK OF THE GRAND JURY. I-EVERAL TRUE BILLS RETURNED. The grand jury returned true bills in the following instances:—Abraham Brott, alleged false pretences (three charges); Isaac Mellor, alleged indecent assault; Charles Tucker, alleged theft from the person ; Frederick William Smith, alleged indecent nssault and assault; Sarah Jane Brown, alleged theft; Kdith McKay, alleged false declaration; Frederick Spearpoint, alleged murder; Arthur Henry Collins, alleged theft; William Joseph O'Dwyer, alleged false pretences ;four charges';: Thomas Needham, alleged murder and alleged attempted suicide; Louis Le Bran, alleged assault causing actual bodily harm and alleged as-s-iult; Duncan Kleeber, alleged theft and assault and robbery; Charles Henry f lover, alleged forgery, uttering, and false pretences. THEFT OF A BICYOLE. THREE MONTHS* HARD LABOUR. The theft of a bicycle, valued at £6 10s, on October 26, was alleged against Joseph Rowlands, alias Joseph Harris, aged 28. Mr. V. R. Meredith, in outlining the rase for the Crown, said that the accused borrowed a bicycle from Laurie S. Mont,"omeiie, at Mangere, where the accused was employed on a farm. The accused did not return, and the bicycle was next seen in a second-hand shop in Ponsonby. The dealer identified the accused as the man who had ;r.ld it to him for £2 10s and had given a fictitious name. When ■ orroborative evidence had been heard the accused said he had ridden from Manpere with a lad employed on the same farm. When they reached the trams accused fold the lad to leave the bicycle at a Chinaman's shop. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. The Judge said it was an impudent theft, and sentenced the accused to three months' hard labour. OFFKNCE AGAINST LITTLE GIRL. TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. A charge of having indecently assaulted 8 girl, aged seven, at Onerahi, was made adjust James Northey. Accused, on oath, said lie was stupid with drink at the time, and while admitting certain actions denied criminal intent. The jury, after a short retirement, found him guilty. and he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.