GREYMOUTH SUPREME COURT

West Coast Times, 18 June 1912, Page 4

GREYMOUTH SUPREME COURT

MONDAY, JUNE 17th, 1912. GREYMOUTH, June 17. A sitting oL the Supreme Court commenced at 11 a.m., this morning before His Honour Justice Denniston. Mr. Joseph Taylor was selected as foreman of the grand jury. HIS HONOUR’S CHARGE. His Honour in his address to the Grand Jury complimented tho district on the state of tho calendar and the comparative absence of crime. There was only one criminal case to he dealt with and that was a case of carnally knowing a girl under sixteen years of age, a case transferred from the Hokitika Court. In such cases tho alleged consent of the girl was no excuse, but in tho case under notice it was alleged by the prosecution that the offence was violently resisted. The invariable defence, too, in such cases was the plea of not believing or knowing- the girl to be under sixteen years. That, of course, had nothing to do with it and he had no doubt the jury would have little difficulty in finding a prima facie case. TRUE BILL. The Grand Jury returned a true bill in the case of Amos Dowell, charged with carnal knowledge. His Honour discharged the Grand Jury and thanked them for their attendance and services to the' Crown. “CARNALLY KNOWING.” Amos Dowell, of Hokitika, was charged with, on the sth day of May, 1912, of carnally knowing Mary Ann Levi Anderson, also of Hokitika, being a girl over tho ago of twelve and under sixteen years and without her consent. Accused pleaded “not guilty.” Tho following jury was then cmpannellcd:—John McMinu, Donald, McMahon, Walter Shaw, Joseph McJlullau, William Cisoy, Janies Discac'uatti, James C. Larkin, Philip A. Anderson, James Hitchcock, John L. Liddi“. Patrick Dignan, G. Dickson. Joseph McMulian was chosen foreman of the jury. All waiting jurors were discharged from further attendance to-day and were notified that they v. ould bo advised in the Press only if their services were not required to-morrow. All witnesses in tho case before the Court were ordered from the room and His Honour ordered the Court to be cleared. Mr. Park appeared for the prosecution and Mr. T. W. Boare for tho defence. After a deal of legal argument as t(> the exact wording of tho charge, Ilia Court adjourned at 1 n. m for lunch. Tho Court resumed at 2 p.m. The hearing of tho charge was continued end witnesses for the prosecution were examined. At 6 p.m., the Court adjourned until ten to-morrow morning.