SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 204, 17 May 1918, Page 8

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

OLD SETTLER IMPRISONED

Tho criminal sessions of tho Supremo Oourt were continued yesterday, beforo p H /? I10 " r J[r ' Justice Edwards. 1< nrtlior ovidonco was heard iu the cose against Gcorgo James Mitchell, dairy iarmer Silverstream, who was charged with obtaining goods from Booth, Mucdonald and Co., Ltd., of Mastorton, Jlurch and Co., produce merchants, Courtemiy Place, and Kiulford and Co., Wellington, of tho total vnluo of Ji% by means of false pretences, that is, bv using tho name of O. S. Mitchell. Mr. P. S. K: M'acassey appeared for the Crown and Mr. JI. F. O'Leary for accused.

J-ho accused, whose main examination was concluded the previous evening, was subjected, to a severe cross-examination as to tho several letters written to firms concerning goods. He was unable to suy who brought tho pump and piping supplied by Booth, Macdonald and Co. to his place. Ho denied asking Shiels to sell tho pump and piping; lie told him that he had tho goods on his place. When tho polioo called ho heard his wife say something about a pump being In the pig pen, but she was referring to the Douglas pump which accused hud purchased from E. W. Mills and Co. He hud a well on his property about 2G feet deep, 'and also an 800-gallon tank. The tank belonging to Kadford and Co. was on his property, but ho could not say who left it there. It was standing just where.it was dumped. Tho letter to Young and Tripe, solicitors, was in his handwriting, but he could not.soy who the "A.M." referred to where he had signed "per A.M." He must have been wandering'at the time. He did not know when Mrs. G. S. Mitchell left tho Lower Hutt. lie was introduced to her by Mr. 6. S. Mitchell, and met' her several times. He ordered meat for Mrs. G. S. Mitchell from. Gadsby Bros., and this meat was always addressed to her at Eivervicw Mouse. There were two Mrs. Mitchells—one was staying at the Kiverview Bouse. Meat for her was addressed "Mrs. Mitchell," and he often delivered the meat to her. This Sirs. Mitchell was the wife of Theodore Mitchell. A close cross-examination as to the letters followed.

His Honour: It. is a peculiar thing that all your letters.are signed by someone else, and all letters written by jou for someone else are signed by you. The iiccused said ho was'not able to locate any of tho other Mitchells. Mr. Macassey: Neither have the police, although they have made inquiries all over the Dominion. .Accused: Perhaps they have not looked properly. (Laughtor.) Counsel did not address the jury. The jury, after a retirement of about ten minutes, returned a verdict of guilty. His Honour in sentencing thb prisoner said that it was an exceedingly painful thing to have to send an old man and a old settler to. prison, but it was iuevitahle in the case of the accused, who had been guilty of a series of frauds. He would, however, impose what was a lenient, sentence .under the circumstances. Accused was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT. The second trial of Henry Williamson, charged with indecently assaulting two males at Woodvillo on March 27 last, was taken.yesterday afternoon. Mr. P. H. K. Macassey appeared for tho Crown and Mr. P. W. Jackson for the accused. Mr. W. H. Nosh was.foreman of tho jury. The evidence was the same as that given at tho previous trial. The iurv. who retired at 4.40 p.m., returned at 8.45 p.m. and announced that they were unable to agree.