SUPREME COURT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2298, 10 December 1889, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

(I'EW PRKBS AHBOOIA.XION. )

Auckland, December 9

The criminal sessions; oommecoed today. Judge OonoUy, la charging the Grand Jury, regretted the he*vy calendar there being 36 indictments involving 30 persona. There are charges of naiawf ally wounding, three asßaults upon women, one being a full charge of rape upon a child of eleven j two of arson, vz, burning an ocauplei honsi Bnd burning a fltx mill, three charges of stealing cattle, nine charges of forgery against persons oconpy- , tag positions of ttaat, three oharges -of forgery against women, and ordinary oases of horse stealing and laroeny. The Judge expressed his pleasure at the legislation raising the age of- consent. r Referring to the Criminal Bvldeooe Aot he; questlbne'd .whether the option of giving evidence on oath or otherwise; would be fttyornble to prisoners, as a; 1 prhonei'd e^eotlon to tntko a statement* without oath and avoid b?oBB-eiamlnatlon' inlj^h t iff eot the J ury against. Jiim, '

At the Supreme Court, to-day .Panlel B, Orchard, a wall known Bbarebi-qjier, was' sentenced to 7 years penal, aarflta.de on e-ght ohargos of forgery and paa of littering. Edward R»nghlnla, recently caused a .sensation la cQnßeqaenoß of his oonpeption-wllh religious bodies, 'wan sentenced do. twelve months hard labor labov for breaking and entering, \