SUPREME COURT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19629, 25 October 1933, Page 8

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS AUCKLAND 'By Telegraph— Press Association AUCKLAND, October 24. The Auckland criminal session opened to-day. Mr Justice Herdman told the Grand Jury that an unpleasant and disturbing feature about the list was the number of charges of crimes of violence, Including two charges of murder. In some cases of murder persons were unable to understand what they did was wrong. There was one case cf that kind on the list, that of an unfortunate woman, obviously suffering from some form of mental disorder, who killed her child. It would finally rest with the common Jury to say whether or not the child was killed when the mother was suffering from dementia. The Grand Jury’s plain duty was to return a true bill. The other case that of a man named Edwards, charged with murdering a woman named Christian Cunningham. It was one of greater difficulty, and he would make no comment on it. The size of the list seemed formidable, but the size of the Auckland judicial district, which was said to comprise a third of the people of the Dominion, must be remembered.

WELLINGTON. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 24. The Chief Justice, the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, presided at the criminal sessions, which opened to-day. In his charge to the Grand Jury, his Honour said that there was 10 bills of Indictment against II accused. The calendar was not heavy, but he did not think he had ever, either at the Bar or on the Bench, seen in a so numerically small calendar such a variety of cases of unusual types. The jury found Paku Kingi and Claude McEwen guilty on a charge of accusing of Indecent assault with Intent to extort money from Alfred Grassi, tobacconist and hairdresser, of Eastbourne. Accused were remanded for sentence. On the application of Mr W. E. Leicester, who said that the defence had still a number of Inquiries to make, his Honour agreed to postpone the trial of George Edward James on a charge St murder until November 13. PALMERSTON NORTH. By Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N., October 24. The Supremo Court opened to-day, Mr Justice MacGregor presiding. In his charge to the Grand Jury, his Honour said he was glad to be able to inform them that their task would be a light one. Really there were only two cases for trial. True bills were returned In both. Characterising the offence as cruel and heartless, his Honour sentenced Arthur Ernest Reeves (51), of Masterton, to two years’ Imprisonment for bigamy. It was stated by counsel that accused, who had a child of 11 by his first marriage, was married a second time in October, 1931, and on May 24 of this year went through the form of marriage at Feilding with another woman, while his second lawful wife was alive. Lindsay Edist Edward Garner, a panel beater, 23 years, of Johnsonville, was found guilty on all counts of assaulting, with some person unknown, Christian Martin Sorensen, an 83-year-old storekeeper at Himltangt, In the early hours of July 1, and was remanded for sentence. DUNEDIN. By Telegraph—Press Association DUNEDIN, October 24. A most unusual happening at the opening of the criminal sitting before Mr Justice Kennedy to-day, was that all five accused persons, who had been committed for trial, pleaded guilty, after the Grand Jury had returned true bills. The charges against them comprised breaking and entering, receiving stolen property, theft, and making counterfeit coins. All were remanded for sentence till Thursday, CHRISTCHURCH. By Telegrapu— Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, October 24. At the Supreme Court, Edgar James Wilson, a salesman, pleaded not guilty to a charge of obtaining £125 from Elizabeth Smith, on July 25, by falsely representing that he represented the Premier Tobacco Company, of Nelson. The Crown alleged that the prisoner secured £125 from the woman In connection with an application for shares. A case involving the sale of shares by an Itinerant vendor was heard. Edgar James Wilson pleaded not guilty to a charge that he obtained £125 from Elizabeth Smith on July 25 by falsely representing that he represented the Premium Tobacco Coy of Nelson, and that he was employed by that company. According to the evidence for the prosecution, Wilson approached Smith, who at first agreed to purchase 1000 shares and paid £125. but later said she could buy only £125 worth. Wilson sent £25 to the Company, retaining £IOO as commission to which he claimed he was entitled at the rate of 10 per cent. It was admitted that Wilson was not employed by the Company. He had previously been employed as a salesman under a sub-contract by an agent of the company, but that engagement had' been terminated. His own statement was that he assumed the Company would not object to his making such a good sale, but the Company refused to ratify it. The jury’s verdict was ‘‘not guilty” and prisoner was discharged.