SUPREME COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

THE QUIN STREET BURCLARY. LLOYD CONVICTED. Thomas Joseph Lloyd was again placed in tho dock at the Supremo Court yesterday to be tried on a chargo of breaking and entering the warehouse of ■ li. H. Creaso and Son, Ltd., in, Quin Street, on August 7, and stealing a quantity of groceries and an overcoat. When tho accused was before the Court last week the jury failed to agree on a verdict. Hence- tho new trial. ' Mr. Justice Chapman was again on the- bancu. iUr. li. li. Ostler, of the Croivn Law Olfice, prosecuted, and tlie prisoner was defended by Air. H. l< , . O'Leary.Mr. James Joseph Morgan was chosen foreman of the jury. . According to tho evidence for tho prosecution, Constables M'Neil and Gallery arrested two men outside the warehouse ■early in the morning .of August 7, after hearing sounds frov witnin the ..building. '■ jjoth men, .while- left' in: charge of Constable M'Ncil, escaped, but tho accused was arrested at his boarding-house later,in tho day by Deteetivo Lewis. Articles of lines supplied by tho firm were found in tho ■bedroom, along with tokens of identity, and it was found .that damago had been done within the warehouse. No evidence for .the defence was called, but the defending counsel addressed tho jury mainly on the question of identification. . ,- Tho. jury, after being in retirement for nearly three ho\irs, found prisoner guilty., . Counsel urged on his behalf that ho be admitted to probation on account of his previous good character. . In passing seutence, his Honour said that lie could, not comply with counsel's request. Cases such as' tho one under notice were too frequent,. and , he was determined to. stop them-in WclliiiEton if possible. In this ■ case wilful damage had also been done. To mark the seriousness ■of such offences prisoner would be sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labour. His Honour intimated that he would recommend the authorities to make a big remission of the sentence , in view of prisoner's previous gopd character, and the fact that he had probably been led into the .crime by soriieono else. Ho would also write +« the Victorian authorities—prisoner being a pensioner for service, in the South African War— suggesting that his pension should not be reduced,'..providing prisoner complied with certain' conditions which his Honour woiild impose. ;•■■<., , Tliis'-coiicludod the b.usiness of the criminal sittings. The civil sittings begin to-day. :■■-'■ :