SUPREME COURT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 598, 7 April 1882, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

CIIRISTCHURCH CRIMINAL

SITTINGS,

Monday, April 3, 1882,

The Chief Justice sat at the Criminal Sessions, instead of Mr Justice Johnston, and in his opening charge spoke very briefly, but regretted the number of assaults on young girls. The Court sat very late in order to get the business over by Good Friday. Mr R. Westen ra waa chosen foreman of the Grand Jury. RAPE. W. Hurt accused of committing this offence on a girl named Emily Gertrude Rohbins, aged 8 years, was found guilty after lengthy evidence. Sentence deferred. ASSAULT. Arthur Sutton, aged thirteen, was indicted for indecently assaulting a littlo girl aged four years, on the 6th February last. The prisoner, who was undefended by counsel, pleaded "Not guilty." After hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict of " Guilty." Sentenced to 30 days hard labor and to be twice privately whipped. LARCENY. Matthew Malcolm pleaded "Guilty" to an indictment charging him with having feloniously stolen money to the amount of £1 from the person oi ! Eobert Cunningham, on the 2nd February last. Sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. ANOTUEII CASE. John O'Brien pleaded " Guilty" to two indictments charging him with larceny from a dwelling. Sentenced to three years' penal servitude. NO BILL. The Grand Jury found no true bill in the cuse of James and Margaret Wright,

charged with arson, and the accused were discharged from custody.

Tuesday, APRIL 4TH.

PERSONATION.

Edward Thomas pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with having committed this offence at Amber ley during the progress of the recent Oheviot election. Mr Stringer appeared for the prisoner, and urged on his behalf that he was under the impression when he answered to th e name of " James Thomas " that he coul d vete in his father's name. He submitted that the case was one which might be met by a small fine. After discussion with learned counsel, His Honor decided to reserve judgment, the prisoner to give security—himself in £100, and one surety in £100—for his appearence when called upon. It APE. Charles James Eminett was indicted for this offence upon a girl of the age of ten years._ There were two countr, cne charging the prisoner with indecent assault. His Honor having summed up the evidence the jury retired, and after an absence of about half an hour returned into Court with a verdict of " Guilty " on both counts. Sentence deferred. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. John Gilpin was indicted for assaulting William demerits on the 25th February latt. The prisoner, who was undefended by counsel, pleaded " Not Guilty." After hearing evidence, the jury, after about 10 minutes consultation, returned a verdict of guilty. In answer to the Court, Mr Broham said the prisoner was now undergoing sentence for four other assaults committed on the same night, and was known to the police as the leader of a band of larrikins who were a great nuisance to the public. His Honor sentenced the prisoner to two years' imprisonment with hard labor. FALSE PRETENCES. Alexander Johnston was indicted for obtaining goods under false pretences. The prisoner pleaded " Not Guilty." The Jury, after a long absence, returned into Court with a verdict of " Not Guilty," and the prisoner was discharged.

Wednesday, April 5.

SENTENCES. William Hart, who was found guilty of rape at Kaiapoi, was sentenced to eight years' penal servitude, and to be twice privately whipped with the " cat," at each whipping to receive thirty strokes.

Charles James Emmett, convicted on the previous day of attempted rape, was sentenced to three years' penal servitude, and to receive a whipping of twenty strokes. INFANTICIDE. Elizabeth Harris was arraigned upon an indictment, charged with this offence. The prisoner pleaded " Not Guilty," and was defended by Mr Stringer. Mr Duncan, Crown Prosecutor, called evidence. The jury found a verdict of "Not Guilty." ASSAULT. In the case of P. O'Shanassy and John Kellar, indicted for assault, the Crown Prosecutor said that the police had been unable to find one of the principal witnesses for the prosecution named Chudleigh, and applied that the accused might be required to enter into recognisances at next assizes. CONSPIRACY. James Wyvill and Alfred Simpson were indicted for conspiring to defraud their creditors. They pleaded " Not Guilty," and were defended by Mr Holmes.

Mr Stringer conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Crown.

Mr Holmes took a technical objection to the indictment. His Honor reserved his judgment,