CRIMINAL SESSIONS OPEN IN SUPREME COURT TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18992, 11 February 1930, Page 10

CRIMINAL SESSIONS OPEN IN SUPREME COURT TO-DAY.

Judge Remarks Upon Targe Number Of Cases Of Arson And Burglary

The criminal session of the Supreme Court opened to-day before Mr Justice Adams. The public gallery Was fairly well filled, the spectators including a number of women.

In his charge to the Grand Jury, his Honor said the district was to be congratulated upon the smaller number of cases to come before the jury. This was due to some extent to the large number of cases in which pleas of guilty were entered in the Lower Court, including cases of arson, breaking and entering, and the use of burglary tools, which had alarmed the citizens in the last six months or so.

“ There are six names on the list, a smaller number than is usual, and upon which the district is to be congratulated,” stated the Judge in his charge to the Grand Jury. 44 This is in part explained by the number of cases that have not reached you because of pleas of guilty in the Lower Court. That applies to the very large number of offences that alarmed the citizens in the last six months or so, in connection with arson, breaking and entering, and the use of burglary tools.”

His Honor continued that all the cases except one were more or less related to the eternal sex problem. A man named Pascoe was charged with indecent assault on boys, and another man named Ernie was charged with a similar offence. There were two charges against two men, Webster and Pickens, of assault with intent to commit rape. The depositions showed that both of the alleged offences were alleged to have been committed on the same woman on the same night. A woman domestic on a Cheviot farm was, on a night when her employer w r as absent, disturbed until the early hours of the morning.

Grand Jury. The following Grand Jury was empanelled:—Messrs F. E. Graham (foreman), F. G. Norton, A. S. Howard, W. Marsh, R. B. Tingey, C. 11. Johnstone, J. Frew, G. A. Duncalf, C. C. Coates, C. 11. Lawrence, W. 11. Jones, J. Maddren, H. T. Stubberfield, G. B. Steel, L. C. Knight, W. S. Newburgh, A. B. Anderson, E. 11. James, W. Thompson and G. 11. Royds.

True Bills. The Grand Jury returned true bills in all cases, as follows: Charles Robert Gray, attempted murder. Thomas Robert O’Callaghan, alleged indecent exposure. James Pascoe, alleged indecent assault (three charges). Ernest William Ernie, alleged indecent assault. Alfred Saunders Webster, alleged assault with intent to commit rape. George Gilpin Pickens, alleged assault with intent to commit rape. James Pascoe pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He was defended by Mr Thomas.