Supreme Court.-Criminal Sittings.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 113, 9 January 1872, Page 6

Supreme Court.-Criminal Sittings.

[From the Times of the 3rd iast. we copy the following epitome:—] An unusually large number of indictmentstwenty in ad—and repress itiug the crime in '.he Province for the iast four months, were pres -nt-d to the Grand Jury at the Criminal Sittings of \ l 2 '. ;,re:ae Courfc 0!1 Tuesday. In the cases of William Augustus M'Leod, charged with an indecent assault, and an attempt at rape, at Waihemo Valley; and Francis Matchett, charged with committing an assault with intent to do i grievous bodily harm at Blacks,—true bills were I not found. Edward Trood, indicted for comi nutting an unnatural offence whilst enaa»ed as cook at the Athenaeum Hotel, Dunedin! was acquitted ; Frederick Hooke, found guilty of stealing money and various articles from the house of Mary Jackson, Stafford-street; and ! Charles Henry Ogilvie Robertson, convicte.l of ; stealing a watch from William Ruff, a seimm j were remanded for sentence. In bis address t > | the Grand Jury, his Honor expressed the opinion that if the Legislature would empower the j Courts to sentence those persons guilty of indecent an I unnatural offences to receive a moderate uunberof lashes, it would be effectual in suppressing these crimes. ; On Wedueshvthe Judge passed a sentence ' of mue mmths imprisonment, with iiarlla ouupon Frelenck Hook.;, agad 21, cuivijtid of stealing m mey, &c—C. rl. 0. !?„> a-ed | '25, for sailing a wa*ch, wis sentennet! to twelve : months' hard lab-iur.—Joi.ph Connor was found 1 guilty of stealing m -ney from the person of !{. I;'-,,V' jho: '' nnl w:ls reminded for sen ence.— j \\ illr. ,i ilro.vn, a ;vd 48 cars, (late of tiie CarI rick Range), wis eonvced of larcenv as a bailee, j and sentenced to twelve mon lis' imprisonment, | wit-a hard labour. ( [jrown owned ali> s•, wlr'cli he g« veto* man named Murray in satisfaction lof ad-:bt duo to him. Shortly afterwards he sold the horse to one Sinnimon. under the be- ; lief that as it was ouly m >rtgaged he had power |toa;sposo of it.) -Frclorick Lloyd, hdij'el of I having stolen aw-'cli at Nascby in 18.-0 was arputtel.-Mary Marion Hogm Webb pleaded amity to a chirge of committing hitramv at j \.aw>.ra>i (Jorge, near Cromwell. Sonten e was ! de:erre!. On Thursday, in the case, T Vdn> i< Mi v M If. Webb. Mr 'Vihm.wiio appear.-d f.,r thjn.-i----soner. who-pplled to have a vitness examined j on behalf of his client before he proceeded out of ! town. Mis Honor having grantel hhe annlicai ti:m, Thnnas Leslie was exa nine I," and j stated t'-iat he became aequinteo wih the priso|uor at Cromwell, where she h»re an excellent j character. Mr Wi : gm having stated 'hat the j witness had been married to prisoner, his Konor I consented to hear him state under wh i, circ nnj stances he had been induce.! to marrv her. Witj ness said that Webb represented himself to him as prisoner's brother, and when witness subsequently heard that prisoner was married, he asked Webb whether it was a fact, and he replied, " Yon must not believe all you hear." John Grey was found guilty of an attempt to set lire to a dwelling house at Blueskin, and sentence was deferred.—Hugh M'Millan, charged with committing an unnatural offence, was sacquitted. Duncan Davis was convicted of obtaining money by means of a valueless cheque : sentence deferred. -A private prosecution under the Bankruptcy Act, against Andrew Hamilton ; was not proceeded with, and the prisoner was | discharged.