SUPREME COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22631, 24 July 1935, Page 10

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS (Peb United Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 23. Only five cases, none of them serious, are on the criminal calendar of the Supreme Court session, which opened today. This is the smallest number for over 40 years, and was the subject of favourable comment by Mr Justice Fair. He said the figures were really striking when it was realised that the population of Auckland Supreme Court district was about 500,000. It was strong testimony to the high standard of conduct and seltrespect of the people. It was a matter for congratulation and a matter which, he was sure, would be the envy of less happy lands than ours, where serious crime was common and increasing. PALMERSTON N.. July 23.

The Supreme Court sessions opened today, Mr Justice Blair presiding. The judge commented that the labours of the grand jury would be light indeed. They would be asked to consider cases affecting only two accused persons, against whom the grand jury returned true bills, the charges in one case being false pretences and theft, and in the second bigamy. WELLINGTON, July 23. Found guilty of obtaining £27 !4a 6d from the licensee of the Martinborough Hotel by means of a valueless cheque, Albert Kearncs was to-day, in the Supreme Court, remanded for sentence. Norman Williams, a young Maori, was found guilty of breaking and entering and theft, and was also remanded for sentence. Henry Horace Smith; aged 35, a labourer, William Alexander Millar, aged 27, a hawker, and Sapiuel Jamieson MTvee. aged 24, a labourer, appeared on charges of breaking and entering the premises of the’New Zealand Fisheries, Ltd., and theft, and on another of receiving stolen property. The jury found Millar not guilty on both counts, Smith not guilty on the first count, but guilty on the second, and M'Kee guilty on the first count. Millar was discharged, and the other two were remanded until Friday for sentence. TIMARU, July 23.

“On taking my seat in the Supreme Court at Timaru I wish to congratulate you as the representatives of the district on the absence of crime,” said Mr Justice Northcroft. His Honor said he did not share the common view that grand juries should be dispensed with. A true bill was returned in the case against James Colquhoun Kay, charged with negligent driving, causing death.