CRIME IN THE WAIKATQ.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18266, 6 December 1922, Page 13

CRIME IN THE WAIKATQ.

COMMENTS BY THE JUDGE.

HAMILTON" SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS OPEN. [Et TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Tuesday. The Hamilton session of the Supreme Court opened to-day before Mr. Justice Herdmam Mr. H. Hawkins was the foreman of the grand jury. In his charge to <he grand jury, His Honor said it was with a certain amount of regret that he had to inform the grand) jury that its duties would not be light', as there were 11 prisoners. Two weie charged with serious offences. Whythere should be a prevalence of crime in the district ho was unable to say, but he pointed out that an increase of population in a district inevitably ri-sulted ir* an increase of crime.

True bills v.-ere returned in each case, except in that of Frederick Robert Rockley, against whom indecent assault was alleged. A no bill was returned in his case.

A youth, Henry A. Biddle (Mr. MacDiarmid), having pleaded guilty to theft in the lower Court-, appeared for sentence. As he had previously borne a good character, he was admitted to probation for two years, though His Honor said if the youth bad been younger he would have ordered him a flogging. Having pleaded guilty to theft, a young girl, Beatrice Archer, came up for sentence. She was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make restitution:

Henry Ludwig Hesebeck, who was found guilty at the last sessions of the Court of damaging a bridge and ordered to rebuild it, came up for sentence. Mr. Gillies said the accused had completed! the bridge, with slight exceptions. tie suggested that the accused should be further remanded till next sessions for- the work to be completed, and this course was adopted. William Daud Anderson (Mr. A. Moody) pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing an unnatural offence at Parahika. Mr. H. T. Gillies appeared for tha Crown. After evidence had been heard, the Court adjourned until to-morrow.