SUPREME COURT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 233, 11 October 1878, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

The quarterly criminal sessions of tho Supreme Court were opened at Christcburch dn Monday, Oct. 7, before His Honor Mr Justice: Johnston. MrC. R. Blaluston was chosen foreman of the Grand Jury. Mr H.Sawtell was fined £5 for nonattendnnce as a Grand Juror, i His Honor delivered.a long charge to the Grand Jury, in which he congratulated the Jury on the continued prosperity of their part of the colony, at the same time he was sorry he could not congratulate

them on the small number of oth-iueV. ).■ the calendar, two of which were of a .ver> serious nature, indeed the most heinoutknown to the law, viz., the charges of murder and rape. , His Honor gave a resume of the cases',in the calendar, and reviewed the evidence, in each case. The Grand Jury found true bills in all the cases, and after making a presentment in reference to the case of Henry JoneSi oharged with the larceny of £1, and which they thought might have been dealt with summarily. His Honor explained) that larceny from the person is a felony by statute, and that the Supreme Court is the only tribunal competent to deal with the matter. John Grossman was indicted for having, on the 28th August last, at Ashburton, broken into a dwelling-house, and stolen a quantity of jewelry. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labor. Samuel Laurence Dennis, a youth of 17, was indicted for having, on the 2nd October, stolen a cash-box containing £13. The prisoner pleaded, guilty, and expressed his sorrow for the act, stating to the Judgo that gambling was the cause of his having entered upon a career of crime. The sentence of the Court was six months' imprisonment with hard labor. Bridget Barnett was charged with having, on the 6th July last, forged a cheque on the Union Bank of Australia for £10. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and said she intended to return the money. The sentence_ of the Court was twelve months' imprisonment with hard labor in Addington goal. . . Margaret Ellison was charged with having, on the 2nd September last, stolen £8 from one Robert Grote. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and after evidence had been led by the Crown Prosecutor, the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Seventeen previous convictions were proved against her, and his Honor sentenced her to five years' penal servitude. John Reynolds was charged with arson at Courtenay. He pleaded not guilty, and after evidence having been laid in support of the case for the Crown, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, ami the prisoner was sentenced to four years' penal servitude. Arthur Gerald Manning was charged with larceny as a cferk, by having stolen £100 while in the service of the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and sentence was deferred until the following day. The Bank was represented by counsel, and requested the Court to deal leniently with the case, as the money had been returned. His Honor said he had nothing to do with that, and sentenced the prisoner to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labor. Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The Court re-opened, and James Smith was charged with having wilfully set fire to a certain storehouse, the property of Dr Symes. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged. Timothy Houlihan, an old man, was indicted for having committed an indecent assault upon a child of tender years. The' Judge, after severely reprimanding the prisoner and pointing out that in former days his offence would have been visited with? death, sentenced him to six years'penal servitude. Walter Daniel Stanton was charged with having burglariously entered the premises of Mrs Brad well, Christchurch. After hearing the evidence, the jury found him guilty. Sentence, seven years , penal servitude. ' -'- - " ; ■ Wednesdat, Ocrr. 9. The court resumed on Wednesday, the 9th, when James -Belcher, and - - Peter Sorrenson appeared to answer a charge of unlawfully,.;killing -a-cow,;the : . property of Gr. R. Jobliri * Little River. The accused were defended , 'by : Mr Joint, and Mr Duncan prosecuted for the Crown. The jury, after a lengthened trialj found both prisoners guilty,, but recommended them to mercy on the ground that they thought the cow a wild one, and that it was no one's ■': Sentence was deferred, to allow Mr Joint time to consider whether he would aek;tlre /Judge to reserve :any point of law. ;; , Vi ' ~'••;• The next case was that, of Henry Jones. for larceny, the jury disagreed as to their verdict, but ultimately brought in a verdict of guilty of simple larceny. Sentence deferred. . The Court then adjourned till, Thursday. :