JUDGE CONGRATULATES WANGANUI DISTRICT; LITTLE SERIOUS CRIME

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 November 1950, Page 7

JUDGE CONGRATULATES WANGANUI DISTRICT; LITTLE SERIOUS CRIME

“I would like to repeat what I ■ have said on other occasions when ; in Wanganui, that it is a privilege to come here for the purpose of administering justice with your co-operation,” said Mr Justice Hay, addressing the Grand Jury , at the opening of the quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court, Wanganui, yesterday. ■The Grand Jury was one of the bul-

warks of the British system of justice. It was set Up in the interests of accused persons to make sure that the nature of the charges against them was given a careful examination before justices of the peac or a magistrate, and later by the Grand Jury, said His Honour.

“Fortunately, today your duties will be comparatively light,” His Honour added. “This can be regarded as a matter for congratulation for the district.”

There were only two cases set down for trial at these quarterly sessions, though other accused persons had pleaded guilty to the charges against them and had been committed for sentence.

“On the whole, I think it may be claimed that the district is one that is reasonably free from serious crime and that, is a matter for congratulation,” His Honour added.

Summarising the cases for trial, His Honour said that a young man, aged 19, was charged with breaking and entering a counting house, and, alternatively, receiving property. The second case was of an entirely different nature. It concerned a man aged 61, from Patea, who was charged with indecently assaulting two little girls, both aged eight years. The Grand Jury returned true bills in each of the following cases:— William Henry Sedgman—alleged indecent assault.

Peter Ray Packer—alleged breaking and entering and theft, and an alternative charge of receiving. The foreman of the Grand Jury was Mr H. R. Beauchamp, other members being Messrs G. Allardyce, G. Armstrong, W. Ashwell, A. McN. Caird, C. Honeyman, A. J. Johnson, C. Keating, M. Morris, L. A. Newman, W. R. Nicholson, L. J. Porteous, B, M. Silk, L. G. Thorburn, N. C. Thurston, A. D. Tilley, L. Wales, E. Wellard and A. D. Wilson.