CRIMINAL SESSIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11664, 31 October 1923, Page 6

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

A LIGHT CALENDAR JUDGE GRATIFIED AT ABSENCE OF SERIOUS CRIME. NO SEXUAL CASES. Tho criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were opened in 'Wellington yesterday by the Hon. Mr Justice Reed, who referred with pleasure to the absence of any serious cases on the calendar, but this did not necessarily indicate, he said, that there was a decrease in crime in other parts of the Dominion. Some eight persons were charged with various offences. One case was concluded yesterday, and another partly heard, while two prisoners pleaded guilty, and will come up for sentence later. This reduces the list to be dealt with to eight persons. THE GRAND JURY. The Grand Jury, of which Mr Henry Mainland was foreman, coneisted of Messrs A. H. Hollis, L. E. Arcus, John 11. Mollroy, James Gibson, J. F. Mills. C. H. Pinnock, G. 11. Scott, E. Salmon, R. M. Brewer, W. J. Gibson, H. G. Chapman, p. Bundle, George Sidford, John Scboles, L. Saunders, C. H. Saville, T. W. Pilcher, D. W. Wadden, Herbert Griffiths, D. E. Beaglehole, and James Munt TRUE BILLS. True bills were returned in the cases of:—Charles Edward William Phillips, whose offence was bigamy, and of which he was later found guilty; James Brown, alleged receiving; John Craig Neill, alleged false declaration; Francis Alexander Millar and Sydney Alfred Bennett, theft; Edmund Robinson, alleged theft and receiving; Frank Victor Herbert Coull, alleged forgery and conspiracy; and Harry Patrick Hodgins, alleged theft and forgery. HIS HONOUR’S CHARGE. In his charge to the Grand Jury, His Honour said he was glad to find that their duties on this occasion would not ibe heavy. There were only five bills of indictment, he said, which involved charges against some six persons. He was also pleased to say that there were no charges of a sexual character on the calendar, neither were -there any charges involving violence. That was extremely gratifying. “But it would be more gratifying if we could take it as some indication that crime is decreasing in the Dominion,” he proceeded. “I am afraid, however, that this is not a fact. Reports from other centres show that calendars are quite as large as usual. And we know that in the last week two very gross murders have been committed in the North Island.”

His Honour was very gratified, notwithstanding, for the relief from serious crime as far as Wellington was concerned. The cases were then reviewed in detail by the judge.