SUPREME COURT

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 128, 25 May 1932, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

Napier Sittings THEFT AND RECEIVING MBS HAMER FOUND GUILTY A verdict of guilty of breaking, entering and stealing goods from Simmonds’ shop and for wilfully receiving stolen goods was brought by the jury against Constance Emily Harner, a married woman, of Na'picr, aged, 22 years, who entered a plea oi jiot guilty to 16 charges involvong 'Breaking, entering and theft, and 16 alternative charges of wilfully receiving stolen property. The trial attracted a largo crowd to the Supreme Court, which was presided over by His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers. The prisoner was remanded till Friday for sentence. His Honour’s Summing Up” “I am bound to tell you that there is evidence upon which you would be propel’ in finding her guilty of all the charges,” said His Honour in his summing up to the jury. If there was no explanation—or an unsatisfactory explanation —to the fact that stolen goods were found in the accused’s possession, then the jury was entitled to weigh this against her favour. He suggested that the jury could deal with all charges —except the Simmonds charge—altogether. Counsel for the accused had suggested that the husband had been the only guilty party, but it was for the jury to decide whether the accused’s share in the offences had been an entirely passive one. The evidence had elicited, that she had actually worn some of the stolen clothes, while a stolen carpet and some cutlery had been found in her room. It would, appear that on her own admission to the police she had known that the goods had been dishonestly obtained. After a retirement of 45 minutes the jury returned with a verdict of guilty to the charge of breaking, entering and committing theft at Simmonds’ shop, not guilty to the other charges of breaking, entering and theft, and guilty to all charges of receiving stolen property. The prisoner was thereupon remanded until Friday for sentence. CHARGE AGAINST BAKER VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY A verdict of not guilty was brought by the jury in the case in which Leonard Charles Baker, aged 21 years, was charged that, on or about April S at Napier, he did break and enter by night the shop of Leonard Lloyd with intent to commit a crime. A plea of not guilty was entered. HARRY HAMPTON’S CASE NOT GUILTY VERDICT A pica of guilty was entered by Harry Hampton, who was charged with the same offence, and in addition two other simitar offences. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty after a retirement of 20 minutes. and the accused was discharged.