LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2232, 19 August 1914, Page 9

LAW REPORTS.

SUPREME COURT' PRISONERS SENTENCED TRIAL FOR ALLEGED ARSON The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were advanced, a further stage yesterday, His Honour Mr. - Justice Hosting presiding. Mr. H. H. Ostler, of the Crown Caw Office, represented tlip Crown. Frederick Logan, who was found guilty last week of tho theft of a watch, and who first appeared for sentence on Saturday, when ho was remanded, appeared once more. His Honour said he had carefully read the prisoner's statement, and he was goiiig to give him a further chance before declaring; him an habitual criminal. The sentence' of tho Court would be that the prisoner bo detained for five years for reformative treatment. Mr. Ostler asked that' the stolen wateh, which had been recovered, bo returned to the owner, .and that the sum of £2 19s. 3d. found in the prisoner's possession be paid to the pawnbroker, with whom the watch had been pawned for £3 10s. His Honour replied that as the money had been found in Logan's, possession some time after the theft (a week) an order could not be made for its direct return. An'order would be made, however, for the return of y the watch, and for the sum of £3 10b. to be a debt against the prisoner to be paid to tho pawnbroker. The matter could then receive the attention of the administrator under the Prisons Act... ; RECOMMENDED TO MERCY. A - married man,- named WilliamForbes, who had ben found guilty on Saturday of charges of forgery and false protences, came up for-sentence. Ou tho prisoner's behalf, it was urged by Mr. P. W. Jackson that this was essentially a ease in which tho previous good character of'his client should stand him in good Stead. Forbes, who was 36 years of age, had served with one of ■ the New Zealand contingents in South Africa, and on his return to the Dominion had joined the Police Force, and given every satisfaction during his term of service. Subsequently ho had risen to a good: position in''the service of the A.M'.P. Society. Counsel -asked His Honour to t-ako into consideration the jury's 'recommendation to mercy, 1 '.and either admit Forbes to probation or order him to come up for sentence when called upon. . , The prisonor, from the dock, declared thatf- he had not realised that ho had been guilty of any offence until he actually stood in the Court. -He-had seen his way clear to meet all his debts.,. _• His Honour, in passing sentence, said it would be impossible to let the offence pas's without a term of imprisonment. On account of the strong recommendation- to mercy, tho penalty would not, be'sbjliigh. as. it otherwise would have' lieen. He would be sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard', la-, hour., . NOT GUILTY OF ARSON. | The Court was occupied during the remainder of the day with the further hearing of a charge of arson, preferred against a middle-aged man named Ezra Reuben Condon, who, it was alleged, had on May 26 last set fire to a cottage, near Mungaroa, the property of the May Morn Estate (N.Z.), Ltd." ,Mr.' T. M. "Wilford appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. ; Further evidence was called for the Crown yesterday, and lengthy evidence Was'afterwards tendered for the defence, the object being to establish an alibi to answer the. circumstantial evidence submitted by the Crown. , •After retiring for twenty miniites the jury returned a' verdict of. "Not guilty"and the. prisoner was discharged. . \ CIVIL LIST. CASKS FIXED. FOR HEARING. ■His Honour Mr. Justice Hosking presided at a sitting of tho Supreme Court in Clisunbers yesterday morning,' when ihe civil list whs called over. Fixtures were made, as. follow Friday, August 21. M'Nab v. tho Wellington Publishing Company, claim for £1000 damages for- alleged libel '(before a Judge and a, common jur> of twelve) Saturday, August 22.—Ellen Louise Barnes v. Joseph Glenham Barnes, peti tion for divorce. , Monday, August 24.—James Russell v. Wellington City Corporation, claim ,for £264 alleged to be clue for injuries sustained (before a Judge and a common jury of four). Tuesclav, August 25. —Undefended divorce caseß. ' Friday, Agirtist 28.—Elizabeth Mary Davey v. Jeremiah Patrick Davey, petition for divorce (before a Judge and a common jury of twelve). SeVeral cases are to stand over in the meantime, and others are to be mentioned- in Chambers to-morrow morning, when fixtures will be mado. ..'.'lt was stated yesterday that the case of F. F. Wills v. H. V. Hammond, a claim for commission alleged to be due, had been settled.