SUPREME COURT

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 362, 9 January 1880, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

The criminal session of the Surreme Court in Christchurch opened on Monday before His Honor Judge Johnston. In his charge to the Grand Jury His Honor thus referred to the cases of the prisoners charged with riot and assault which which were to come before them:—

" And now I come to that portion of the present assize which necessarily creates very painful reflections. It is not a very satisfactory thing that at this time of day in a British Colony there should be traces found of the old feuds and dissensions which, in old times, in the Mother Country, in the British Dominions have created so, much anxiety. One might have well hoped that in a community like this, where one may safely say there is a large amount of personal, civil, and religious liberty, and where popular prosperity |is as extensive as in any part of the world at of its existence, no persons would have been so misguided and ill-advised as to disturb the peace under the excitement of evil passions. What one says in this place is so liable to be misunderstood, that I think I shall best discharge my duty by saying little more. I only trust that the good sense of the people, when they have re ■ covered from the shock just given to them, will so demonstrate the absolute inutility andjf oily of a small body of men attempting to act contrary to law by asserting their views and gratifying their passions at the expense of the community, as to prevent the necessity for laws being made of a coercive character. The law permits persons to join together for purposes not illegal. There is no restriction against their going through the public streets with any demonstration they think fit so long as they do not disturb the public peace. The Orange Societies are, I understand, benefit societies. They use the Orange colors for reasons you all know, but which should be only discoverable from the pages of history, for the causes which led to their being adopted have long ago disappeared. They are, however, quite within the law in using their colors and emblems, and in going through the streets in procession, so long as they do it without provoking a disturbance or a breach of the peace. If they are interfered with in the exercise of this right, we may well protect them."

Robert M'Lennan, convicted of forging and uttering was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor.

Albert Pillow was arraigned on two charges of assault with intent to rob, and pleaded " Guilty." The same prisoner pleaded guilty to stealing a number of articles from the Museum.

Dr Foster addressed the Court m mitigation of punishment

His Honor sentenced prisoner to what he termed the " very lenient" punishment of, for larcency, 12 calendar months' imprisonment with hard labor, and the highway robbery, penal servitude for four years, after the expiration of the former sentence.

David Grubb pleaded guilty to stealing and secreting three post letters, containing money, on Oct. 22, 1878. The prisoner had been a letter carrier in the Post Office.

Mr Thomas called evidence as to character.

Mr Duncsn admitted the previous good character of the prisoner. His Honor reminded learned counsel that only quite lately (1873) the legislature permitted a judge to pass for the offence no less a sentence than penal servitude for life.

Mr Dick, Chief Postmastei of Christchurch, informed the Court that many offences of the kind had been committed about the time when prisoner stole the letters.

His Honor sentenced prisoner to the "light sentence " of eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labor.

Henry William Ford, for stealing a watch and chain at the Somerset Hotel, Ashburton, was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labor. Minnie Thompson, alias Edwards, and Richard Palmer were charged with stealing a purse containing money from the person of John Young, on Oct. 26,1879. The latter prisoner was also charged with feloniously receiving (he purse. They pleaded " Not Guilty." The jury found a verdict of " GuiUy " against Thompson. The prisoner Palmer they acquitted. Inspector Hickson said there were twenty-five previous convictions in ten years against Thompson. His Honor sentenced her to penal servitude for four years. Patrick Moss, convicted of stealing £7 received a sentence of two years' itnprisonmeut with hard labor. On Tuesday John Anderson was found guilty of larceny from the dwelling house of E. A. Worthy, and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labor for eighteen months. James Wells convicted of "assault with intent" received a similar sentence. Thomas Engelhart was charged with stealing some imitation gems from the Christchurch Museum. Prisoner was acquitted. Thomas Evans for stealing a cheque and money from the person of Samuel Manson was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labor. John Jones pleaded " Guiltj " to two indictments for forgery and uttering. In mitigation of punishment he made an explanatory statement, and called a witness to character. Inspector Hickson proved previous convictions against prisoner. His Honor sentenced him to imprisonment for two years, with hard labor, on each charge, the sentences to be ooncurrent. • Joseph Clark and Annie Osborne were charged with robbing Hugh Higgins, and violently assaulting him. Mr Neck defended the female prisoner. The jury found a veidict of "Guilty " in each case. Detective Noil gave both prisoners a bad character. Mr Restell proved previous convictions of Osborne. His Honor sentenced each to penal servitude for four years. On Wednesday— Edgar Osborne was charged with setting fire to the warehouse of Benjamin Hale on Oct. 29, 1879. There were no fewer than six counts in the indictment. MrT. W. Stringer defended the prisoner, and was complimented by His Honor on the manner in which he conducted his case.' The jury found prisoner " Guilty," and he was sentenced to penal servitude for six years. Daniel O'Brien, for uttering a valueless cheque, received of two years' imprisonment w^MßH^bor.

David Tucker and Thomas Jones were charged with breaking into the warehouse of Robert Allen and another, and stealing therefrom, on Dec. 9, 1879.

His Honor directed the jury that there was no evidence against Jones.

The jury, without leaving the box, found Tucker guilty, and Jones not guilty. Inspector Hickson gave evidence that Tucker was now under sentence for three separate larcenies committed on Dec. 9.

His Honor sentenced Tucker to four years' penal servitude, to commence from the expiration of his present sentence.