CRIMINAL BUSINESS.

NZ Truth, Issue 217, 21 August 1909, Page 11

CRIMINAL BUSINESS.

Increase m Sexua! Offences. The Criminal Sessions of the Auckland Supreme Court opened on Monday, before Mr Justice Edwards. In his charge to the Grand Jury, his Honor said there'was some improvement m the calendar, as there were only 2T> cases, hardly more than half the number on the list at the previous sessions. However, there was one deplorable feature—the lamentable increase m serious offences. There were no fewer than eight cases involving serious charges against men with respect to persons of, the opposite sex. Then there was A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER against' the motbrman and' conductor of a tram-car. He would' point o.ut that if a person charged with a duty caused death by neglecting thai duty, he was guilty of manslaughter. It did not equal the major crime of murder, but was homicide, and as such must be dealt with. There were charges against two. persons of having forged totalisator tickets and attempting to. obtain payment on them. If it were shown that the forged, tickets were presented for payment it would be incumbent on accused -to explain how they obtained them.