SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2767, 10 May 1916, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL CASES CONTINUED

His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robei't Stout), was again on the Bench wh'en the criminal sessions of the .Supreme Court were continued ycsterdav. Mr. V. K. Meredith, of the Crown Law Office, . represented the Crown. . PORGERY AND FALSE- PRETENCES. A plea of guilty was entered by John Henry Farrclly, wlio was charged with forgery and false pretences at 2s r «pier in October, 1809. It was stated that the prisoner's ofience arose from the stile of furniture which was under a.bill of sale. Sir John Findlay, K.C., who, with Mr. D. M. Findlay,' appeared for tho prisoner, put in a strong plea for lenienoy. His Honour admitted Farrellv to probation for a period of twelve months.

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY. John Dillon, aged 25 years, was charged with assault and robbery,''the victim of the assault being an oid man, named George Lewis Raddon, who was rather roughly handled when being robbed. Accused pleaded riot guilty, and conducted his own defence. After evidence had been tendered by Raddon, by an independent witness, Henry James Harper, who saw Raddon being robbed, and by the arresting constable, the accused made n. lengthy statement from the dock. The jury, after a retirement of forty minutes, returned, a verdict of guilty, and added a word of commendation in regard to., tho part displayed by tho witness Harper jn bringing about the arrest of Dillon. Passing of sentence was deferred until oaturday '■.morning.

PLEAS OF GUILTY. * Charles Burrows, about 30 years of age, and Delia Pine, 31 years of age, were charged together with assaulting William i ltzpatrick, so as to cause 'him actual bodily harm. The assault took place at I'itzpatrick's residence, in Taranaki Street, on March 21 last. Mr. 11. P. O'Leary, who appeared for tho prisoners yesterday, tendered a plea of guilty on behalf of Burrows, and ex-" pained that the female accused would plead guilty to' common assault. ' , The plea iras accepted and both prisoners were remanded until Saturday for sentence. . "

PALMERSTON CASES. By Telcgraph-^Presa, Association. ■ ' ./ Palmerston N., May 9. The Supremo Court opened to-day beforo Mr. Justice Edwards. There was only ono criminal case. His Honour congratulated the district. It was noteworthy that since, the period of the war there had been a comparatively small number of criminal cases dealt with in tho various districts. The cleansing effect of the war was therefore being experienced, and was tending to the general happiness and well-being of the community.

CHRISTCHTJRCH SESSION. Christchurch, May 9. The Supreme Court criminal sessions opened to-day before Mr. Justice Sim. Herbert Peter Hansen, for tlieft of lodge moneys, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment; Matilda Ewing, for theft from a neighbour, to three years' reformative treatment'; Edward Lester, Edward.Adams, and Joseph Gaines, for theft of a case of whisky at LyttelFon while drunk, were admitted to probation for two years; Richard O'Brien, n soldier, for attempted carnal knowledge, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. I

DUNEDK SITTINGS. Dunedin, May 9. The criminal sessions opened to-day. There were four charges on the list, none of tlicni.cf.n serious- nature. Bobert Gordon Mahon, who pleaded guilty in' the lower Court to theft, received a sentence of six months' imprisonment. James Mort, a waterside worker, pleaded guilty to -a charge of receiving goods stolen'from the Tainui, knowing the same to have been stolen. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.