NO WAVE OF CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 14

NO WAVE OF CRIME.

CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND.

SUPREME COURT OPENED.

THE CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

NORMAL NUMBER OF CASES.

" There is certainly nothing to indicate tliat any wave of. crime is passing over this judicial district," said Mr. Justice Hwdman, in his charge to the grand jury at the opening of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court at, Auckland yesterday. " There is nothing* unusual about the present criminal calendar," commented His Honor. There were 35 cases at the previous sessions, and 26 at the February sessions, but there wore only 22 on this occasion. Whatever might be indicated by the number of cases before the Police Court, the number of cases beforo the Supreme Court was normal. " It is also satisfactory to note that the crimes, generally speaking, are not of a serious nature," added His Honor. In enumerating the cases, His Honor mentioned a charge ot' using obsceno language. This Court should not have to deal with such cases," he said. " These cases should be dealt with in the Police Court." Attempted Murder Charges. ■Regarding two charges of attempted murder, there were exceptional circumstances in each case. The first charge was against an,unfortunate girl, who was a probationary nurse in the country. The matron of the hospital discovered that the girl had given birth to a child, which was found in a locker. There was a piece of singlet round the child's neck. The gii4 was in a position of extreme difficulty, and the grand jury could make up its mind as to the mental condition of a woman in such circumstances. " There is nothing, I think, to suggest that the girl intended to kill the child," said His Honor. "The Crown must prove that intention. It is for you to decide, and I take the responsibility of suggesting that there is not sufficient evidence to warrant your finding that a prima facie case of attempted murder has been made out." The other case was one in which a man was alleged to have fired a gun at a police otneer. "To put it mildly, this man s mind appears to be unbalanced, said His Honor." The evidence showed that he had been an inmate of a mental hospital. His Honor suggested that the proper course for the grand jury was to lind a true bill, and leave to the common jury the question of deciding whether, when the act was committed, the man was capable of forming a proper criminal intention. No Bill in One Case. In a brief survey of the remaining cases, His Honor referred to .two charges of negligent driving so as to cause death. These ort'ences had been common throughout New Zealand recently, the result of the increase in motor traffic. Everyone in. the community was entitled to the use of the public highway. When a man was in charge of a car, lie was bound to drive witli care, at not too great a speed, and to give warning whin in traffic difficulties. The grand jury comprised -Messrs. H. Kissling (foreman), -A. , -';S. »' , Bi'iatt, A. Maltby, A. Menzies, C. L. Simpson, S. Somerfield; Ai L. Stedman, A. Wakeman, H: H Watkins. W. H. Wharfe, E. A. Cashmore, JR. N. S. Chisholm, E. Colson, C. H. Court, H. JR. Craig, A. M. Eriksen, A. E. Gifford, F. G. Gregory, H. G. Hall and G. Jones. The grand jury returned " no bill " in the case of the young woman charged with attempted murder, whose name was ordered to be suppressed. THEFT AT PUTARURU. LENIENCY EXTENDED. ACCUSED LOSES AN EYE. James C. Phillips, who bad pleaded guilty to a charge of theft at Putaruru, was ordered to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months. Mr. Justice Stringer said that, in view of physical suffering since undergone by accused in the loss of an eye, he would deal with him in a manner which would otherwise be inadequate. There seemed to be no advantage in making an order for restitution, as there was apparently no possibility of the accused being abie to pay. CHARGE ABANDONED. \ NOLLE PROSEQUI ENTERED.

A nolle prosequi was entered in the Supreme Court yesterday in tho case of William Jenkins, farmer, Glenfield, charged with a serious offence against a g""h The jury at two previous trials had disagreed. ' The accused was .accordingly discharged.