SUPREME COURT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 494, 8 April 1881, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened on Monday last, before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston.

His Honor opened his charge to the Grand Jury-by remarking that although he could hnrdjy congratulate the Grand Jury on the lightness of the calendar, yet the cases to be brought before them were such as would present no difficulties. He saw nothing to suggest the growth of any particular species of crime, though it might be regretted that the crime of . indicti veness was too common. There certainly was no sign of crime having been caused by that depression winch notoriously had been existing in the Colony. He saw no reason to believe that any of the crimes to be dealt with could be attributed to a want of employment or any other circumstance connected with. the commercial depression. It so happened that in the short calendar there wero three or four cases which seemed to be the resr.lt of recklessness and vindictiveness. but which did not suggest any local or general ill condition of the people. The Grand Jury found true bills in all cases submitted to them except ono This was a charge against Alfred Westlake, of maliciously wounding a horse. The following were convicted aud sentenced : — Daniel James Phillips, illegally pawning, imprisonment with hard labor for one day ; Maurice Fitzpatriek, larceny,'six -months' imprisonment with hard labor ;'.Edward Long-more, larceny in a dwelling, 12 months' imprisonment;. George Douglas, larceny, penal servitude for three years; Edward Wells, larceny, imprisonment with hard labor for six months; Henry Jackson, malicious injury to machinery, imprisonment with hard labor for nine months. TUESDAY. Robert Wyatt was indicted for maliciously injuring a reaping and binding machine, the property of J. T. P. Moorshead, on Feb. 1, 1881. Mr Duncan appeared for the Crown and Mr Joyce for defence. The Jury, without retiring, found a verdict of '" GuiUy," and his Honor passed a sentence of nine months' imprisonment with hard labor. John Beaufield was indicted for shooting with intent to murder John Spring on March 3. There were several counts in the indictment charging him with intent to maim, to disfigure, to* disable, and to do some grievous bodily harm. The prisoner was not defended by counsel. The witnesses who were examined re peated in substance the evidence . given by them in Court I e!ow. The prisoner said that he and his children had been persecuted by a cowardly villain, who had entered his house once in seven years, but that was once too often. He had been in prison two months already through tho prosecutor. It was very hard that his wife could not give evidence, but from what was in her letter he could see that she would not tell the truth. His Honor said the prisoner seemed to think that hi_ wife had been guilty of infidelity with the prosecutor, but there was not a tittle of evidence that she had. His Honor then snnimcd up. The jury, without, retiring, found a verdict of '"Guilty." After addressing tho prisoner at some length, His Honor passed upon him the sentence of penal servitude for 10 years.

Patrick Donnelly, convicted of obtaining money under false pretences, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with haul I-.bor.

On Wednesday the Court was occupied during the whole day with the trial of Walter Pringle Gibson for tho murder of William Kcrrison.

Tho circumstances of the case were fully detailed at ihe time of their occurence. It appears that priooner and a sister of deceased had been living together as man and wife. The woman had left him, aud gone to live with her brother. On the evening of Christmas Day last, prisoner went to Kerrison's hous>, and after some conversation, which appeared to be of a friendly nature, suddenly drew a revolver and shot the unfortunate man dead.

Mr Holmes appeared for the defence, and without disputing the facts, set up the pica of insanity. The evidence was very lengthy, and the case lasted till half-past eight in the evening. At the conclusion of tho evidence for the defence Mr Duncan said he thought that in the face of the medical evidence, the prosecution could hardly expect a verdict from the jury. His Honor thought the same. Though there might be an honest difference of opinion among medical men on the subject, after the evidence of Drs. Haeon and Symes there con d not be much doubt that a verdict of insanity must be returned He would ask the Counsel for the defence, whether he was prepared to accept a verdict of acquittal on the grounds of insanity,

Mr Holmes : Yo_, Your Honor,

In accordnce with His Honor's direction, the jury brought in a verdict of '' Not Guilty, on the grounds of insanity." His Honor ordered the prisoner to be kept in civil custody at Addington Gaol until the pleasure of the Colonial Secretary was known ; and he inslructel the Regis tear to communicate with the Colonial Secretary.