SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2233, 20 August 1914, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL TRIALS

In the Supremo Court .yesterday, before His Honour Mr. Justice Hosking, the last case for trial at the criminal sessions was dealt with. This was the retrial of the two young men, Michael Boyle and Joseph Dante, who were lust week charged with conspiring to defraud an eld man named James Pettigrow of the sum of £0. On Uiat occasion thero was a minor count against each accused of obtaining money by falso pretences, but the jury failed to bring- in.'a verdict, and a now trial was ordered. Yesterday the Crown- dropped the chasge of. conspiracy, and relied on tho charges of false pretences,, both prisoners being tried together. Mr. H. H. Ostler, of the Grown Law Office, represented the Crown, while Mr. 1\ W. Jackson appeared for the defence, picas of not*, guilty being entered by both accused. ' Evidence for the prosecution was on the lines of that tendered at the previous trial. Boyle gave evidence in de-' fence;' but Dante confined his defence to a statement from the dock. The jury retired at 5.35 p.m. and returned'ait five minutes to 9 o'clock with ( a verdict of, guilty against both accused, but added a very strong recommendation to mercy in Dante's case.The prisoners were remanded until Monday next for sentence. '