SUPREME COURT SESSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 6

SUPREME COURT SESSIONS.

»—_—. CHEISTCHURCH. IDy Tclesrnrih—l'ress Association.) Christchurch, February 6." Tho Supremo Court criminal sittings opened to-dny before Mr. Justice Denniston. His Honour said the-list of cases was not heavy, considering the sizo of tho district. There were, seven indictments against six persons, and ci®ht persons would appear for sentence. Tho Grand Jury returned truo bills in respect of nil indictments. Tho Judge specially warned tho Graud Jury in resard to tho Pitcaithly caso that they had no power to try the case, as their duty was solely to consider whether the evidence for tho prosecution established a prima facie case.

William Burridge, a young man, was brought up for sentonco on four charges tff breaking and entering and theft. Ilis Honour imposed a sentence of four months' imprisonment, with hard labour, to run concurrently with tho balance of the prisoner's present sentcnco of three months.

George Love, alias Simpson, alias Wallace, alias RoWden, alias Taylor, appeared for scntcnce for perjury. A sentence of four months' imprisonment was imposed, his Honour explaining that should bo considered as a six months' term, as tho prisoner had been awaiting sentcnco for two months.

Denis Patrick Mahoney was presented to bo declared an habitual criminal. His Honour said that prisoner's record brought him within tho statute. JIo had been convicted on over thirty occasions for oll'onccs against the well-being of the public, vet he claimedto bo as law-abiding as tlio average citizen of Christchurch. There was 110 course open but to declare the prisoner an habitual criminal. Francis William Garner, who was also presented to bo declared an habitual criminal, pleaded for leniency. Ho said that ho was a married man, forty-eight years of ago, and confessed that he had been "a bit wayward in his youth." The Crown Prosccutor_ said that prisoner had spent most of his tirno in gaol sinco 110 camo under the notice of the police, in 1901. His last oonviction was in connection with one of a series of fifteen thefts of carpenters' tools. His Honour said that prisoner was exactly tho class of man for whom tho statute was intended. Tho order was mado declaring him an habitual criminal.

Edward Joseph Tioid was charged that, on Octobcr in last, ho forged a certain authority for tho delivery of goods purporting to b?>Riven by Mason, Struthcrs, and Co., and uttered the same to 0110 Denlon. His Honour inflicted a sentence of six months' imprisonment, with hard labour, to bo concurrent with a previous sentence.

.Toiiu Lee, an elderly man, was charged that on January 11, ho slolo from the person of Christ inn Johnston a peggy bag and contents. Accused was convicted, and sentence was deferred till to-morrow.

William Gibbon Thompson was charged on two counts with stealing, 011 November 23, one gold ring and other articles of jewellery, the property of IS. N. Martin, St. Albans, and with receiving, on November 2(1. a gold ring, knowing tho samo to havo been dishonestly obtained. The hearing was not concluded when the Court ndjourned. PALMERSTON NORTn. Palmcrston North, February 6. At tho opening of the Supreme Court sessions to-day, Judgo Cooper complimented I'almerston 011 tho light calendar. Ernest A. Hamilton, aged 18, who pleaded guilty to an assault and rapo on a girl of 11 at Foxton .Beach Uoad, was sentenced to not less than five years' reformatory imprisonment. In tho case of Wilson Howard, charged with the found accused guilty of detaining tho alleged theft of a sheep dog, tho jury dog knowing it was stolen, but that there was no evidence to show how he

camo by it. Uis Ilonour reserved various matters in connection with the ca?o for the Court of Appeal. Win. "Lanciford Howard and John Joseph Herbert Hush went indictcd on threo counts, one of assault and robbery, and two of theft from the person. The theft charge was olio of cut tins out tho tronser pocket from an old man nnmcd Alexander M'Mnsler while ho slept in -his room av the Arcadia Hotel, Feilding. After considerable evidene? had been given tho jury found accused not gulity.