MORE CRIME.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1923, Page 5

MORE CRIME.

INCREASE IN WELLINGTON. BAD CLASS OF CASES. By Telecraph.—Freis Auoofatlon. Wellington, Feb. 6. The Supreme Court sessions have opened. Mr. Justice Chapman, addressing the Grand Jury, expressed regret at the increase in the charges. There was a spirit abroad haying a tendency to increase, at least in the Wellington district, the number cases coming before the court. Not only was the number considerable, but the character of the offences was such as to cause uneasiness. Wellington, Last Night. At the Supreme Court, George Robert Kemp was found guilty on several charges of false pretences. It was stated that accused, who conducted his own defence, cashed several cheques in various districts, the cheques being dishonored. He received four months’ imprisonment. In the charge of manslaughter against a nurse at a mental asylum, where a patient died after being placed in a hot baht, the jury returned no bill. CRIME IN AUCKLAND. LONG LIST OF OASES. Auckland, Feb. 6. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened before Mr. Justice Stringer. There were 23 cases, involving 26 persons. In hie charge to the Grand Jury, Mr. Justice Stringer said that thirteen charges involved dishonesty, these forming the bulk of the charges. As usual, sexual cases occupied a. prominent position, six of them, but none were particularly lurid in character. Dealing with the * bookmaker charge, he said it had been the practice for such cases to be tried by. a jury, but, notwithstanding the clearest proof, they seldom recorded a conviction. He thought that was unfortunate. The last charge referred to was that of murder against John Finnigan, a ship’s' fireman, who was alleged to have killed Con O’Keefe on the steamer Tredenham. There was rfo doubt that accused inflicted injuries causing death; that he was guilty of manslaughter was beyond all question; whether he was guilty of the graver charge was for the Grand Jury and then the common jury to consider. He advised the Grand Jury to find a true bill for murder. From the evidence it would seem clear t'hat priconer committed an unprovoked assault and treated O’Keefe in an exceedingly brutal manner. He mobably did not intend to kul the man >but if’ a ipan in these circumstances committed an act of violence the probable result of which would be to do grievous bodily liarm he was responsible for the whole consequence-?. Therefore, he thought the Grand Jury should leave the matter of considering a reduction of the charge to the .‘jinmon jury. Auckland, Last Night.

The grand jury returned a true bill against John Finnigan, for the alleged murder of Con O’Keefe, a fireman on the steamer Tredenham.

Summers Heruika Edwards, a half-caste Maori, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and theft at various premises. Ho was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention.

PALMERSTON NORTH SESSIONS.

Palmerston North, Feb. 6. The Supreme Court sessions opened before Sir John Salmond to-day. There are five indictments on the criminal list, but a fairly large number of civil cases.