SUPREME COURT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2030, 7 January 1889, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

{PIK PZUDK ABBOOIATIOKJ Oheimohuboh, January 7. The Sapieme Oonrt criminal sittings opened to-day. Mr Joitlce Ward, m charging the Grand Jury, said It was a matter for regret that there wai a long calendar. The absence of any very serious obarge w»b a matter for oongrata lailon, especially the abwmqe of disgraceful crimes against women so freqnent at forner criminal sessions. Bef erring to -the eaie again it Bain, indicted for libel, Judge Ward said: "The aocneed Is charged with baring published a libel on Mi Olllvier m hii ospaotty of Resident Magistrate. * The publication will <b© dearly proved. You will have to decide whether it attribute* to Mr OlHvler corrupt conduct In his offiotal capacity. There oan be no question that the decision «f Jadge or Magistrate form fair subjects of conuaent and diicasiilon In the press. - MaUfcti eaay be pointed oni and the left ic •lon ofpenaltlra, the sayings of Judges, and tha seneral conduct of the Ooart fairly diseased and freely commented upon, but if ■ frords are written and published attrtbntIng to the Magistrate corruption m the execution of his office there can be np qneitlon that suoh are lndlotable." Powell, for. stealing a kioyele was eentenced to six month*. The Maori burglar, Murray, shortened the proceedings considerably when charged with breaking into various houses and chops at Bicc&rton, Lyttelton and Eaiapoi by saying ** sot mnoh, I ran away from gaol and 1 took them things." He was sentenced to fire years penal servitude, to run concurrently, on several indictments. - • , Dvvsdtv, January 7. At the Criminal Sittings no bill was returned In the ease of Joseph Wilson and Ernest Dryden, two boys oharged with noniebreakln«. Margaret Mary Belinda Todd, an elderlp woman, against whom there were many previous oonviotions for vagranoy and false pretences In Canterbury district, was sentenced to three wean for false pretences. Harry Oonn pleaded gndty to horse-stealing and was liberated for twelve months under the Probation A<rt and ordered to pay half a crown a week towards the expenses of the prosecution. Thomas Gleeson, now being tried, has pleaded gßllty to prison breakIng and several burglaries committed during the few days he was at Urge, and not gollty to several offenoes for whloh he wm under committal »t ,tbe time of bU f*9»pt?ro»gwl,