SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2850, 15 August 1916, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

SEVEN PRISONERS SENTENCED Seven prisoners were sentenced at the Supreme Court yesterday moriiing by tho Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout. James Robertson, a nightwashman in the State employ, who had been found guilty of indocency, was sentenced to twenty months' imprisonment with hard labour. 1 Mr. P. W. Jackson, prisoner's counsel, said Robertson was an honest, hard-working man. Mr. Jackson called evidence to that effect, and aIBO called Robertson's wife, who said that elie and her six children were dependant on his earnings. She added that she did not believe that he had committed the offence. His Honour thought there must be something abnormal about prisoner. However, besides committing the offence, prisoner had lied about it. Ho did not deserve consideration, but on account of his family something would be taken off the sentence. ' Isidor Mount was sentenoed to 18 months' reformative treatment for indecent assault. Karl Anderson, a Swede, was sentenced to a year's imprisonment respecting two charges of assaulting firemen on the steamer Tainui. Henry Donald Campbell was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for assault. Two years, with hard labour, wera the sentences on William David Creamer and James Farrelly, guilty, of breaking and entering in Taranaki Street, Wellington. Frederick Gibbs was sentenoed to two years' imprisonment on a count of theft from a returned soldier. Charles Hector Dudley, whose ohief trouble was said, to bo drink, was sentenced to six months' hard labour for forgery, and was declared to be an habitual criminal. A TRADE-MARK PATENT. Before Mr. Justice Chapman, Joseph James Eceles was charged, on the prosecution of Frederick Francis Fabian, with having falsely applied the trade mark "Aiax" to a fire extinguisher in Otago and Masterton. Mr. A. W. Blair appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr. T. M. Wilford for Eceles, who pleaded not. guilty. Immediately after a jury was empanelled, Mr. Blair Said that ho had not been aware when the prosecution was instituted that before Osing the name "Ajax" Ecclcs had applied to a firm of recognised patent agents in Qhristchurch to know if the trade mark "Ajax" had been registered. The firm had replied to Ecoles that they had searched and had not found that it was registered. His Honour: If he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, he is entitlod to be acquitted. Mr. Blair said the prosecutor was prepared to accept such a verdict, on tho understanding that a perpetual injunction was made against defendant's uso of the trade mark, and that material and literature concerning the patent were handed over by Eccles to Fabian. This course was agreed. upon. No evidence was offered by tho prosecution. His Honour directed the jury to find a verdict of not guilty, and this was done. INDECENT ASSAULT. Oscar Padman pleaded not guilty to a • charge of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 16 on July '29. Mr. M. J. Crombie appeared for the accused. Mr. Fred fetacey was foreman' of the jury. The evidence for the prosecution was the same as that given in the lower ' Court. The accused, who went into the wit-ness-box, denied absolutely seeing the little girl on the Saturday when the assault was alleged to have taken place. ■ The jury, after a retirement of about twenty minutes, returned a verdict of common assault. The prisoner was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. AUCKLAND SITTINGS By Telegraph—l'ros.3 A&ociation. Auckland, August .14. The Supreme Court criminal sessions opened to-day. Mr. Justice Hosting, in charging the grand jury, said there were 29 offences charged against 25 persons. He expressed 'regret that almost half of the offencbs were sexual oases. DUNEDIN COMPENSATION CLAIM Dunedin, August 14. The Supreme Court aotiori Newburn, a youth, v. Zealand Coal and Oil Cotnpany, a claim of £2000 damages for loss of both legs above the knees, the result of being caught in machinery at the Kaitangata mine, lias been settled by the payment of £1000 and costs.