SUPREME COURT.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16817, 8 June 1926, Page 4

SUPREME COURT.

SMALL CRIMINAL LIST. DISTRICT CONGRATULATED. LITTLE SERIOUS CRIME. His Honor Mr Justice Herdman presided over the criminal sessions of the Hamilton Supreme Court, which opened at Hamilton to-day. The Grand Jury consisted of (he following gentlemen: W.. H. Paul (foreman), B. A. Y'coman, E. A. Bryant, 11. A. Gaze, A. W. Ward, F. G. House, F, W. Burley, F. S. Hall, W. E. Clarke, B. C. Fowler, T. Jolly, K. Prime, 11. Cracknell, B. Totman, j. G. Bateson, T. 11. Dillon, G. Kent, F. Binnic. J. Jcbson. E. A. Scott, J. MeKinnon. J. Banstcad, R. Mcars, H. Marychuroh. His Honor's Charge. In his charge to the Grand Jury, His Honor said it was to some satisfaction lhat he had to announce that the criminal calendar was very small. Never since he had presided over the Supreme Court at Hamilton had the list of cases been lighter. This spoke well for the behaviour of the Walkato district, and the pcoplo of the district were entitled to be congratulated upon the comparative absence of serious crime. There were four cases for trial, and only in one case was the offence alleged of a grave nature. There were charges of forgery against two men, while another was charged with allegedly interfering with a number of little girls. Unfortunately the latter class of offence was becoming too common throughout New Zealand. Another man was charged with the offence of incest. The police case rested on the uncorroborated evidence of the girl, although another daughter had formerly given a statement to the police, which she had since withdrawn. In all the cases His Honor thought the jury would have no difficulty in returning true bills. BREAKING AND ENTERING. A young man named Jack Thompson, who pleaded guilty to breaking and entering at Otorohanga, and the theft of £9 2s lOd, came up for sentence. Mr Mackersey. who appeared for prisoner, said that restitution had been made of the stolen money. His Honor: I see the police ask that he he ordered to be kept out of billiard rooms.

Mr Mackersey thought drink was prisoner's chief failing.

In admitting prisoner to probation for two years, His Honor said he did so on the probation officer's recommendation. A condition of the probation would be that he kept out of billiard rooms. He had, apparently, already taken out a prohibition order against himself. He would also have to pay the costs of the prosecution. INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGE. A scries of charges of alleged indecent assaults on little girls at Waitoa was preferred against a middleaged man named Cornelius Buckley. The case is proceeding. TRUE BILLS. True bills wero returned in all cases.