SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2460, 13 May 1915, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS PROBATION GRANTED Tho criminal sessions of the Supreme Court wore resumed before His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) yesterday morning. Mr. V. R. Meredith, of the Crown Law' Office, represented the Crown. Before any trials were proceeded with, the young woman, May Wills, who had been found guilty on Monday of theft from a dwelling, was placed in tho dock for sentence. She had been recommended to mercy by the jury, and His Honour had expressed the opinion that it would be better to commit her to a home than to send her to gaol. Mr, H. P. O'Leary, who appeared for the prisoner, suggested that she might bo admitted to probation and given a. chance to find employment. Since she was fourteen years of age. Wills had been an orphan, and had had to look after herself as best she could. At the age of eighteen she had fallon into had company, and now had a child to maintain. It was three _ months ago since she had been committed for trial, and she had actually, served two months in gaol. Since being liberated on bail, she had taken employment, and had worked right up to tne time of the trial. Counsel understood that if probation were granted, Wills could return to the same employment. ' Mr. Meredith informed His Honour that the prisoner's child was in charge of a married sister at Tauranga, and that there were arrears of maintenance. His Honour said that tho prisoner's only chance of reforming was to have some guidance. She was of weak character, and it would bo no use relying on her to reform unless there wero someone toUook after her. She would be admitted to probation for two years, but a condition would bo that she should- enter tho Salvation Army Homo and remain there until released by an application to the Court. At the end of sis months application could be made to the Court, and, if the prisoner's conduct warranted it, she could be released and given an opportunity to find employment. • AN ACQUITTAL. Walter Balch, a- waiter, and 'Arthur George Young, a barman, were placed in lie dock together, and charged with arson, it being alleged that they were responsible for the burning of th« White Horse Hotel, at Ngahauranga. on July 19, 1914. Young pleaded guilty, and was remanded for sentence. Balch entered a plea of not guilty, and was defended by Mr. H. F. O'Leary. In connection with the fire, one Charles Edmunds had previously , pleaded guilty, to the offence' in the Lower Court, and hod furnished DetectiveSergeant Rawle with a written statement implicating hoth Young and Balch. According to this statement, Balch had keDt a watch outside tho hotel while Edmunds and Young had fired the building from tho inside. . Young had subsequently recoived the sum of £220 for insurance on the contents. The'principal -witnesses for the prosecution yesterday were Charles. Edmunds and De-tective-Sergeant Rawle, the former adhering to the statement, which had resulted in his own conviction. Evidence was given for the defence by the accused (Balch), by Arthur George Young, while a third witness testified as to the previous good character of Balch. Both Young and Balch declared that Balch had' no part in the plan to set fire, to the hotel, and that as soon as he heard of the plan on the night of July 19,. he avowed his intention of having no part in the crime,, and immediately got out of the building, and left in the direction of Wellington. The jury retired at 8.30.p.m., and returned in about half an hour with a verdict of. "Not guilty." The prisoner, was discharged. CASE PROCEEDING. A young man, named Thomas Dagnail, pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecently assaulting, on February 13 last, a girl three years of age. Mr. H. F. Von Haast appeared for the deTho Court was cleared during tho hearing of evidence. After partial, hearing, the case was adjourned until this morning. W. G. MASLIN ACQUITTED (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, May 12. In the Supreme Court, William George MStiftfh was acquitted on a charge of indecent exposure in Christchurch Gardens.