LONG CRIMINAL LIST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19315, 4 May 1937, Page 13

LONG CRIMINAL LIST

| DUNEDIN SUPREME COURT JUDGE- VOICES REGRET SUMMARY OF CTTAtffIES (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. "I'm sorry to tell you that the list of charges disclosed by the criminal calendar is a long one for this district," said Mr. Justice Kennedy in opening the quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court to-day. "The charges include manslaughter, negligent driving of a motor ;uid thereby causing death, being in charge of a motor car in a state of intoxication and by an act of omission causing bodily harm, indecent assault on a girl under 16 years of age. attempted indecent assault on a male, abortion and disposing of the dead body of a child with intent to conceal delivery, and theft."

The manslaughter charge arises out of the occurrence when an Opoho train left the rails and killed a pedestrian. The charge of negligently driving a motor and thereby causing death arose out of an occurrence in a city street, when an old lady was killed.

ALLEGATION OF THEFT

I CONDUCT AS STUDENT SUPPRESSION OF NAME *:. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. You have already received far heavier punishment than any this court might be disposed to inflict, said Mr. Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court to-day, in directing the discharge of a young man accused of the theft of a microscope belonging to the Otago University three years ago. The theft was committed while the accused, now a practising dentist in the North Island, was a student and the Crown Prosecutor agreed with the defending counsel that it was unfortunate that a comparatively small offence should have to go to the Supreme Court, merely because it was an old offence. The Crown made no objection to the extension of the utmost leniency. Counsel stated that the accused carte to the Otago University from the north when 18 years of age! Very foolishly lie wasted the first, two years of his course. His father was angry, but with his mother's help he was able to stay on and applied himself diligently. In December of 1933, his mother died, this coinciding with the time of his final examination in which he failed. He found that if he could stay till May of the following year, lie could sit for a special examination. He did so, pawning his effects and living a hand-to-mouth existence.

It was during this time that the microscope was pawned. The accused did pass then, obtaining a northern practice with' ' his father's assistance. When hi* creditors found that he had commenced practice, they pressed, and meantime he had married and had a child. However, he. did get clear of debt, but trouble overtook hint when the microscope case arose.

His Honour said that the offence was committed in circumstances of extreme pressure. This was an exceptional case in which the court should exercise its power. The judge discharged the accused and ordered the suppression of his name.