SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 100, 29 May 1900, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

WELLINGTON CRIMINAL SESSIONS. [PEE PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, May 28, The criminal sessions began this morning. There are 33 cases against 25 prisoners.

Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, said he was sorry to see such a large number of prisoners. The cases ranged from murder to theft, and it seemed extraordinary there should be so much of the latter. It could not be want of employment, and must be the number ofpersons who would not work, but preferred to steal. In the murder case there was no doubt the accused had killed his child. He understood the defence would be that the man was not responsible for the act. It was not enough, however, for a doctor to say a man was insane. Our law laid it down that persons were not insane if they were capable of knowing right from wrong, and that would be the subject of investigation by a common jury. Patrick McGuire pleaded guilty to common assault. James McLean pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, and was remanded for sentence. Thomas Teece, for watch robbery, was found guilty, and remanded. John if. En gel pleaded guilty to forgeries, and was remanded. Henry North, for alleged breaking and entering, was convicted, and remanded for sentence. The jury found no bill against Charles Nelson, charged with assault with intent.

CHRISTOHURCH SESSIONS. SEVERE STRICTURES ON COLONIAL YOUTH. Chbistohuech, May 28. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened to-day. Mr. Justice Edward?, in charging the Grand Jury, remarked that out of 30 cases 16 were young New Zealanders. He did so with regret, as if there was any place where there was not an excuse for crime it was in tbis country. He expressed the opinion t hat gambling in its many forms, such as the totalisator, was responsible. Drink was bad enough, but gambling, which pervaded the youth of the colony, wss worse. The matter was beyond our control. His Honour mentioned that breaking and entering appeared to be the fashionable crime in the country just now, and crime ran in cycles This was a peculiar thing, which became apparent to thcsa who had to deal with if,

James 0. Bignali and G. H. Kogerfl were each sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with hard labour, on charges of assault and robbery. Charles McCutcheon pleaded guilty to stealing two horses, and was admitted to probation for four years. George Dent, for forgery, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

DUNEDIN SESSIONS. • j Dunedin, May 28. At the Supreme Court, ten cases wore disposed of, convictions resulting' in each, the following sentences being passed: —Robert Davis, attempted rape at Frankton, five years; Joseph Jackson, forgery, eighteen months; Wm. Stanley Bwke, stealing a bicycle, nine months ; Frederick James Page, breaking and stealing, admitted to probation; John Moffatt, stealing a watcb, one year and eleven months; Andrew Howard, theft of a bicycle, two years; Mary O'NoiU, theft from a dwelling, three years; Elizabeth Rockley, thoft fiom tho person, three years; Wilihm Campbell and Jjsnph Barnes, broaching and stealirg cirgo in the harbour, six months; Thomas Ritchie, causing bodily barm to an old woman, three y mce, AUCKLAND SESSIONS. Auckland, May 28. At tho Supreme Oour', Judge C)no!ly, in charging thu Grand Juiy, said while tho liiim'i'r of indictments was not, s> oi:m •>oils an usuul, s'ill he regrctttd l,b"in w< n; iii'iny of a very seriouri ch rioter, «hi"h would require most careful attention, Elwin Hull uvsiy, formerly a clerk in the Aucklmd Public Trust Office, who absconded to Sydney, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for theft and false pretej^es.