HAMILTON SUPREME COURT

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14235, 9 December 1919, Page 5

HAMILTON SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSION OPENS

His Honour Mr Justice Cooper opened the criminal sessions of the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day.

Grand Jury,

A grand jury was sworn in as follows:—Herbert J Barford, Hugh Deck, Norman Cribble, Maurice Going, VV. (iutteridge, A. Hyde. T. Hall, B. Kirkwood, G. Kemp, B. Kibblewhite, P. Marfell, C. Matthews, W. J. McKee, R. Seddon, F. Thomas, 11. Williams, M. Birch, J. McKlnnon, His Honor's Charge. In his charge to the grand jury. His Honor said there was a considerable amount of business 'before them to consider. Most of the charges were against property and obtaining money by false pretences, but he regretted to see there were two offences against young trirls The duty of the grand jury in these, and in fact, all cases, was to sec if there was prima facie evidence to put the prisoners on their trial. In both these cases he thought they would find the evidence sufficiently strong to warrant them sending the accused for trial before a common jury. There was another charge of assault upon a woman, causing actual bodily harm, the husband being Hie accused. Prisoner's excuse for the assault was that his wife was not properly performing' her household duties. All the grand jury would have to satisfy themselves upon was as to whether the assault was actually committed. In each of the other cases, witnesses would be (•ailed to give evidence, and if the jury found, after hearing this, that there was a doubt in their minds as to the prisoner's innocence, this was sufficient to warrant them sending the eases for decision to a common jury. TRUE BILLS.

True Bills were found in all cases Alleged Carnal Knowledge.

A young married man named Gilbert Langdon came up for re-trial on a charge of carnally knowing a girl of 15, at Te Pu&e. In ouWning the case, Mr H. T. nilli.vs. Crown Prosecutor, said the girl was in the employ of prisoner, who was a farmer, at the time of the alleged offence. It would be shown that prisoner was aware, at the time of the assault, that the girl was under the. ago of 16. Prisoner had already been tried upon the charge and the jury had disagreed. (Proceeding.)